kelli fontenot

Dropping Pounds, Driving Health

2012-01-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published January 2012 by the NCA Journal

Implementing a health and wellness program for employees can both help them get fit and potentially lower a company’s medical insurance costs, in addition to a wealth of other intangible benefits.

American Licorice Co.’s Tammie Mitchell, director of human resources, tells the NCA Journal offering such a program is a way to improve employees’ perspectives of the company and change lives for the better. She reveals company associates have shed nearly 1,000 pounds together as part of American Licorice’s “Healthier Tomorrow Than We Are Today” program, and the company has donated that amount in non-perishable food to local food banks to support the initiative.

Associates can participate in annual health screenings, a Biggest Loser-themed contest, and health fairs featuring massage therapists, yoga, acupuncture, and demonstrations of fitness and healthy cooking, she says. American Licorice introduced the initiative in 2007, and has been able to offer reductions on health premiums for participants who meet certain standards, such as reduced blood pressure levels, tobacco use and waist circumference, she explains.

Spangler Candy Co. also provides employees with heart health-focused wellness screenings and free memberships to the YMCA near its Bryan, OH, headquarters, according to Niki Mosier, the company’s director of human capital. The Spangler Fit program helps its employees lose weight and stay active, and this year some 40 percent of associates participated, she notes.

“If we have healthier employees, it will hopefully reduce and lower medical insurance costs,” Mosier explains. “There will be less absenteeism, there’s higher morale, and if they lose weight or have lower cholesterol, they’ll see the benefits of that. Because we care about our employees, we want them and their dependents to be healthy and have healthy lifestyles.”

The benefits of implementing health and wellness services are broad, Mitchell says. In the past few years, American Licorice has earned recognition for its efforts, including the 2009 Silver California Fit Business award, the 2010 American Heart Association Start! Fit Friendly award, and first place in the 100 to 499 employees category of the Healthiest Employers of Indiana awards. The company promotes these honors to consumers on its website and blog.

“Traditionally, our associates work for us for a very long time, if not a lifetime, and we really count on associates being with us for decades, so the programs are mutually beneficial,” Mitchell says.

Offering Health And Fitness Help

With on-site personal coaches and fitness centers, The Hershey Co.’s myWell-Being program has helped control the company’s health care costs, according to Jeff Beckman, director of corporate communications. He adds it has also improved health and productivity, attracted and retained employees, and improved employee engagement.

“In 2012, we are deploying a global wellness strategy beginning with the U.S. and Puerto Rico,” he tells the NCA Journal. “This includes enhancing our offerings, opening up programs beyond the medical plan to all employees and dependents, and restructuring our incentive and reimbursement programs. In 2013, we will be expanding the programs to other countries around the world where we operate.”

Ferrara Pan Candy Co., Inc. also offers a health and wellness program free of charge to its employees, and is looking into the correlation with its costs, according to Angie Castejon, human resources manager. So far, she says: “We haven’t gotten to the point where we can say, ‘Ever since we have had this in place, it has brought down our insurance ratios.’”

However, insurance costs were not Ferrara Pan’s primary reason for implementing the health and wellness program, she says, explaining it actually stemmed from an earlier program that aimed to help associates quit smoking.

“We looked into starting a weight loss program because there were a couple of individuals who said they were worried about gaining weight now that they had quit smoking,” she explains. The company implemented Weight Watchers At Work in January 2010, offering meetings each week for associates to attend on their lunch breaks. About 25 people are enrolled, and collectively the group has lost 1,100 pounds, according to Castejon.

How To Implement Programs

Choosing the right program takes some research and planning, Castejon says.

“Weight Watchers worked for us because we had the flexibility of having representatives come out to our facilities and talk to employees about their options as far as lifestyle changes they can incorporate,” she explains. “What we found is that sometimes the support factor was what was really helpful in helping these people lose weight.”

When employees lost a certain percentage, or reached a five- or 10-pound weight loss goal, that information was shared with the group, but other details were kept confidential, she says. The company receives overall data each week highlighting collective numbers of pounds lost, which indicates whether or not the program is working, Castejon says. The organization was also able to accommodate both shifts of employees.

Similarly, the bulk of American Licorice’s associates are in production facilities, so the company must manage its health programs across three different shifts, Mitchell says. At American Licorice facilities, Wellness Centers feature computer kiosks and phones to provide access to medical carriers and personal coaches. The candymaker’s 13-week Biggest Loser program incorporates diet, exercise and on-site weigh-ins conducted by third party wellness provider WellCall.

“WellCall manages the confidential information,” Mitchell explains. “We get aggregate data, so we see our blood pressure year-to-year and that we have more associates in the healthy range. We can track our progress.” There are individual success stories as well. One employee, for example, quit smoking and lost about 90 pounds. “Seeing those success stories is really encouraging, and it’s great for him and for his coworkers to see that progress,” she says.

In the Midwest, where the number of employees who smoke is higher, American Licorice offers Quitting with Cliff. Named for an employee who aims to quit smoking, she says, the program invites participants to track the number of cigarettes they smoke and gradually cut back. Wellness coaching, company-wide runs, and Pole, Pedal, Paddle relay race teams round out the company’s Healthier Tomorrow initiative.

To gauge participants’ interest, the company sends out surveys to see what’s working and what isn’t. Today, more than 70 percent of associates in each location take part in Healthier Tomorrow, she says.

At Hershey, participation varies depending on the program, Beckman says, explaining myWell-Being includes preventive exams, fitness center reimbursements, Weight Watchers reimbursements, care advocacy services, a 24-hour Nurse Line and corporate activities linked with the company’s Moderation Nation consumer wellness campaign.

“Our mission statement is to develop a global culture of health and vitality that empowers employees, retirees and their families to improve their well-being,” he says, adding: “We offer cash incentives for participation and completion of certain wellness activities.”

Keeping employees interested in programs is vital, sources agree, and companies offer incentives such as gift cards to help boost participation rates.

For example, employees who participate in Spangler Fit weight loss contests receive cash prizes, Mosier says, adding they also receive a one-year subscription to a health magazine to help them keep in line with personal goals. Spangler is planning to host a triathlon at some point in 2012, and employees will likely receive incentives for that as well, she adds.

Also providing incentives, Ferrara Pan invited employees to take part in the Ferrara Pan Pound Down, which Castejon calls a “friendly” weight loss competition. “You could be part of a five-person team or work as an individual,” she says. “Once a month, employees who participated weighed in, and at the end of the six-month mark, the winning team that lost the most received a cash prize.”

Ferrara Pan is considering another contest in 2012, she adds. “Employees have expressed interest in it because we had so much fun during the Pound Down.”

Castejon claims these programs help associates save money: “The employees really appreciate the fact that the company sponsors it. It takes a huge burden off of them to know they don’t have to pay for weekly meetings or online access to be able to track their information.”

By completing two wellness programs in a year, and exercising 30 minutes a day for 20 days, associates at American Licorice can receive up to $150 as part of its Wellness Rewards program, Mitchell explains. They can also get $50 for taking two annual dental exams. “We’re really focusing on getting our associates to the dentists or the doctor, because recent reports say many illnesses are actually diagnosed at the dentist, rather than by a doctor,” she says.

In addition, she notes, it’s not always just about losing weight. “We’re also looking at other successes — the people who didn’t realize they had high blood pressure and they are sent to a doctor, and they now have the correct medication to keep their blood pressure at a healthy level. And it’s someone even saying they were at the health fair, went to the dermatologist to have something removed and found out it was precancerous.”

Employees at Hershey have also shared stories about the positive impact the myWell-Being program has had on their lives, Beckman says, citing weight loss, early detection of breast cancer and learning about their biometric numbers such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

Ferrara Pan’s Castejon adds many employees have shared their stories with her on a one-on-one basis, telling her they haven’t worn a particular size in many years, or showing enthusiasm about how much weight they’ve lost.

In fact, Castejon experienced the program’s benefits firsthand. “I felt the difference,” she says. “It changes your mood and your perspective and it can teach you all these lifestyle changes that make you feel healthier and happier.”

While these instances are not something that stands out in a report documenting aggregate blood pressure levels, Mitchell says they are the primary benefit of implementing these programs.

“When you have someone come up to you and tell you what a difference it has made, it’s so much more impactful than seeing the data on a piece of paper,” Mitchell says.

Godiva Moves Into Mass Market

2012-01-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published May 2011 by Candy & Snack TODAY

NEW YORK — Premium chocolate supplier Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. is seeing increased sales and continued expansion of its Gems, tablets, bars, Pearls and panned items, says Chris Mattina, vice-president, North American wholesale. The line was developed exclusively for food, drug and mass channels, marking a major departure from the brand’s previous niche in Godiva retail locations and high-end department stores.

With chocolates in standup bags, boxes and bars, the presentations are designed for everyday gifting and self consumption. The move is meant to encourage candy dish behavior, offer convenience, introduce the brand to new consumers and capture brand loyalists in more widespread channels, according to Mattina.

“Growth in premium chocolate has been increasing year in and year out and that really is adding dollars to the category,” he tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “Godiva entering mass is not only adding incrementally to retail sales in the chocolate sector, but is also almost purely incremental to the premium chocolate market. Godiva is one of the most recognizable trademarks in the world from a luxury perspective, so this is a product that has built-in brand recognition.”

The line includes chocolate bars; standup bags of chocolate-panned fruits and nuts; Pearls, which are tins of mini round chocolate pieces; and Gems twist-wrapped truffles, caramels and solid chocolates.

Since its debut, the mass-market line has grown from six Gems SKUs and four bars to eight everyday and two seasonal Gems SKUs and 12 bar varieties. After a soft launch in September 2008, with a phased introduction in drug and grocery, Godiva broadened distribution through 2010 to include drug and food retailers, and is now expanding the line into Target Corp.

“We are the last of the major premium chocolate companies to enter this arena, but we wanted to do it in a very thoughtful and strategic fashion,” Mattina says.

Comparing the line with the company’s traditional Godiva offerings, Mattina says the main difference is the size of the pieces and the fact they are individually wrapped. For example, Gems caramels are 50 percent smaller than other Godiva caramels, and the entire range is twist wrapped to promote sharing in candy dishes, unlike Godiva’s gold ballotin gift boxes, he says.

“One thing we realized was that consumers weren’t buying the ballotin boxes and sticking them in the pantry and enjoying the chocolates from time to time throughout the day; our packaging didn’t lend itself to that behavior, so now we’re offering something that can suit that need in addition to lending itself as a casual gifting option,” he explains.

And while the formats are different, Mattina notes taste and packaging quality have not been sacrificed. “It’s the same chocolate, and that’s what is unique about the product,” he emphasizes. “We’ve taken the same quality we’ve used during the past 85 years, and are introducing exactly the same product, dressed differently.”

Taking Godiva To Mass Market

In fact, Mattina says the solid, caramel and truffle chocolates are the three most popular items sold in the classic ballotin boxes, so the company chose the topselling versions to build the Gems line.

Gems come in solid milk and dark chocolate, milk and dark chocolate caramels and dark, milk and white chocolate, raspberry, peppermint and French vanilla truffles. The brand is offered in gift box assortments including 5. 25-ounce boxes with a SRP of $12.99 and 8.2-ounce boxes with a SRP of $19.99. Standup gift bags hold single flavors and a variety of assortments in weights ranging from 3.1 to 4.25 ounces, with a SRP of $4.99. Shoppers emphasized the importance of affordable prices compared with the competition, Mattina notes.

Further extending the mass offerings, Godiva is capitalizing on a current trend with its Ice Cream Parlor line, Mattina says. These Gems truffles come in single-flavor standup bags of dark mint chocolate chip, and milk chocolate strawberry, as well as in assortments such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate vanilla and milk chocolate strawberry. They pack in standup bags featuring images of the products with scoops of ice cream.

Also as part of the Target stores rollout earlier this year, Ice Cream Parlor Gems debuted in reclosable acetate cup-shaped containers geared toward parents looking for convenient packs to add to Easter baskets, according to Rich Keller, global-vice president, marketing and innovation.

The range also features 1.5-ounce truffle bars in Oranges & Cream in white chocolate, Vanilla Sundae and Mint Chocolate Chip both in dark chocolate, and Hazelnut Gelato in milk chocolate. They have a SRP of $2.95.

Meanwhile, launching exclusively in Target stores in June are 3.5-ounce dark chocolate almond caramel and milk chocolate sea salt toffee caramel bars. The flat bars also come in a range of flavors including 50% Dark Chocolate Mint, 32% Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel, 41% Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, 31% Milk Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, and White Chocolate Vanilla Bean. They have a SRP of $3.99.

Keeping Presentation Premium

To maximize the upscale appeal of the brand for mass, a Godiva team of visual merchandising managers evaluates the presentation of each product in the company’s retail stores, as well as in department stores, and is available to help mass retailers design sets with an upscale atmosphere, Mattina explains.

“If you look at the way products are displayed in our retail stores, their presentation is very luxurious and appealing,” he notes. “When we meet with retailers, we bring our visual merchandising managers to make recommendations on how to enhance product displays and placement.”

The company suggests various shelf liners and shippers to present Godiva Gems and bars, in addition to permanent displays such as lane blockers — high-end wooden fixtures — to hold standup bags, bars, tins and gift boxes.

Working with sommeliers and a staff of on-site chefs, Godiva has also developed shippers that give buyers the opportunity to cross-merchandise in the wine section, placing wine bottles on one part of the rack and Godiva items on the other. “Thierry Muret is our head chef. He comes from a luxury gourmet food background and has worked with us to develop great wine and chocolate pairings,” Mattina says.

Explaining the importance of presentation, he adds: “Consumers are looking at trading up to a certain extent. The economy lends itself to consumers cutting back on a lot of things, but one thing we haven’t seen them cut back on is the personal treat element — and the premium chocolate segment will continue to grow.”

The company has seen double-digit sales increases in department stores and its own retail outlets since its mass market debut, Mattina says.

“When Gems became available more broadly, with consumers able to experience and purchase product in a less intimidating atmosphere, they are more willing to shop our own retail stores,” he explains. “So we’ve expanded the category to the point where we’re inviting consumers to try it for the first time in the mass channels, and enjoy it in other venues as well.”

Reaching ‘Lady Godiva’

Mattina notes Godiva’s traditional distribution had been successful in reaching the target consumer, but adds: “She shops in a variety of places — from Neiman Marcus and our own stores to Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and Target.”

While shoppers in conventional channels might not be the same as those in Godiva and department stores, Mattina argues the company will continue to reach out to its typical consumers with the Gems line of standup bags and gift boxes.

“The consumer for Gems is also the Godiva consumer,” he says. “She sees Godiva as a gift, so we offered her the opportunity to get to Godiva all year round with the Gems brand. What we’ve done is just expand that 360-degree Giving from gifting in a formal capacity with the ballotin box to a more casual capacity with Gems and tablets.”

Mattina notes the company refers to its target consumer as “Lady Godiva,” a group comprising females ages 25 to 54. Of the women in that group, 85 percent are between the ages of 35 and 54, 90 percent of them make $80,000 or more a year, 41 percent have a post-graduate degree, and 60 percent have children.

“They’re really a paradox – someone who likes high-end luxury goods and likes to treat themselves, but also looks for a bargain,” Mattina explains.

The Godiva brand’s current marketing message focuses on relationships and connecting with people on occasions beyond holidays and giftgiving, according to Keller.

“One of the reasons we launched Gems is that it’s all about the candy bowl. It allows the opportunity to share our chocolates during everyday special moments,” he explains. “It could be as simple as a girl’s night out, or a book club night. It could mean ‘I’ve had a hard day, I’ve accomplished a lot and I deserve a reward.’”

The cornerstone of the campaign, Keller says, is a series of TV spots highlighting the Gems brand. In these ads, the final image is of the products on shelves in a grocery aisle, he notes. “It’s always important to leave them thinking about where they can get the product,” he explains. The tagline, he adds, is: “They’re now closer than you think,” which demonstrates the supplier’s emphasis on its move into more widespread retail channels.

Promoting the line in print, the company is running ads in targeted media including InStyle and Martha Stewart Living, as well as national FSIs, according to Keller. “In this economy, consumers are looking to save, and it’s great to give them a chance at trial,” he says. He notes the company’s most recent national FSI hit in April.

Reaching its core consumers digitally, Keller is active on behalf of the company on social networks such as Facebook and Communispace, which enables him to gain insights about the brand’s current loyalists. He says the campaign, launched in November, is very different from the company’s traditional marketing tactics, which include sponsoring upscale events such as the Golden Globes.

Ultimately, Mattina says volume was a factor, but not the main driver for Godiva to enter the mass market. He notes continued growth in the premium sector during the past eight years, and adds the company’s entrance has resulted in supplemental sales.

“We haven’t seen cannibalization between Godiva and items that have been on the market for a while,” he explains. “It’s adding sales. Each one of our retailers has come back to us and said we are adding incrementally to category growth.”

Eddy's On Coventry opens for business

2011-11-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published July 12, 2011 by The Heights Observer

A new hair salon has opened in Coventry, aiming to please clients “who place value in details,” said owner Eddy Maddox, one of the original owners of now-closed Fast Eddy’s Chop Shop.

A welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and artistic décor are among the features that Maddox hopes visitors will notice at Eddy’s On Coventry, LLC, in addition to high-quality, full-service hairstyling.

Product lines such as Pureology, Aquage and Redken will be used when styling, and staff will serve visitors homemade cookies and lemon ice water, made with organic lemons, Maddox said. Also focusing on interior design, during construction Maddox added a fireplace mantel, a product storage unit that resembles the side of a barn, and metal art to give the space what he calls an “industrial vintage vibe.”

“The salon has a warm, homey feeling to it. I’ve brought in some antiques and mixed them in with modern pieces,” Maddox said. “When people come in, I want to give them a great haircut, but I also want to give them a great experience and for them to feel at home.”

The 800-square-foot location houses six cutting stations and employs three stylists—Raqui Brown, who worked for five years at Fast Eddy’s; Renee Bennett, formerly of Crazy Mullets; and Maddox, who has 23 years of experience cutting and styling hair.

Originally from Cuyahoga Falls, Maddox opened Fast Eddy’s with a partner in 2004, and also has helped to open five other establishments in the area. While he gained technical abilities from his studies in Chicago, Toronto and London, Maddox also loves to “cut free form,” like a musician, he said. His passion for styling originally stemmed from a need to pay for college courses. He joined the U.S. Army after high school, and after he got out, decided to go to beauty school to help pay for classes. Since then, he estimates he has given thousands of haircuts, and is continuing his work at Eddy’s On Coventry.

Opening a business is extremely rewarding, noted Maddox, who said he hopes to expand his newest endeavor after its first year by opening a second location.

“There’s no better feeling than when you come up with a concept and then a year later you have a full staff and a waiting room full of people,” he said.

The salon offers cuts for women at $25 and up, men at $25 and up, and kids at $20, and also provides root retouching, highlights, styling and facial waxing.

In terms of style, Maddox prefers haircuts that are “soft and touchable,” and he loves it when people bring pictures and have a good idea of their desired end result. “Sometimes people can’t articulate what they want,” he said, adding that he asks questions, listens and offers suggestions to help customers come up with the perfect look.

SIDEBAR:
Eddy's on Coventry
1785 Coventry Rd.
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
www.eddysoncoventry.com

YWCA gives permanent housing to former foster girls

2011-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published July 1, 2011 in The Heights Observer

The second floor of the YWCA building on Prospect Avenue has been repurposed to house Cuyahoga County’s young women who have aged out of foster care.

The newly renovated facilities, called Independence Place, include 23 furnished efficiency apartments with kitchenettes, bathrooms, closets and basic household items. In addition, tenants have access to a community room, laundry facilities and a playroom for children.

Three YWCA employees who live in the Heights helped make the $5 million undertaking possible: Gina Cheverine, chief program officer; Fannie Johnson-Baxter, manager of supportive services; and Margaret Mitchell, president and CEO of the YWCA. Mitchell said planning for Independence Place has been a top priority for her since she joined the organization in May.

"We have a long history of helping people, but this is a new, more permanent option. This is not a halfway house, or a temporary solution," Mitchell explained. "The housing is such a stabilizing factor. Being able to have a permanent home, a telephone number that you can be reached at, access to a computer on a regular basis, all of these are basic necessities from which you can really move your life forward. Our goal is to see each of our residents move into a life of independence and self-sufficiency."

Some tenants have children or are pregnant, but most are not equipped with the skills to raise children, find jobs or perform household tasks, such as cleaning and cooking, Mitchell added. Each year, about 200 teenagers in Cuyahoga County become too old for foster care each year, according to the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

"They age out when they turn 18, but many do not have a high school diploma, they do not have a home, they do not have preparation for work, and without the Y stepping in, it really is a bleak situation," Mitchell said.

Independence Place houses women between the ages of 18 and 24. "It’s a time when you have a certain degree of independence, but at the same time, you’re still very dependent on parents or guardians to get you to that next step. And when you come out of foster care, that really isn’t there for you," Mitchell explained.

While she said there are certainly nurturing foster families, Mitchell explained that many former foster children experience traumatic situations and develop mental health issues. In fact, they have more than seven times the rate of drug dependence and nearly twice the rate of alcohol dependence compared to the general population, and their rate for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exceeds those of some U. S. war veterans, Mitchell said.

With the YWCA’s support, residents pay rent on a sliding scale, depending on their income level. Child care and education can be provided through the YWCA’s Nurturing Independence and Aspirations (NIA) program, which helps the young women overcome various challenges and enables them to spend time on career development.

Funding for the program came from low-income housing tax credits, donors, and federal, state and local governments, Mitchell said. The project also received historic tax credits, which meant architects and contractors had to ensure that the integrity of the building was preserved throughout construction, according to Chuck Miller, of Doty & Miller Architects. Repurposing old buildings is a green concept in itself, Miller said, but Independence Place also meets requirements for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification by the United States Green Building Council.

"There are lots of challenges associated with renovating old buildings," said Miller, a resident of Cleveland Heights and a founder FutureHeights. Renovating Independence Place included using cleaner fuel, new electricity and plumbing and the use of sustainable and locally produced materials, he said.

Joseph Linek, chief project manager for Doty & Miller, was in charge of the design and implementation of the construction documents, and was the representative for the company on site during construction. As many as 50 people arrived to work each day, with contractors from Regency Construction assembling the building with hammers and whirring tools. The noise made the location an improbable place to hold customary progress meetings, he said. "The YWCA was working the whole time on the first floor, so there was a lot of coordination to make sure their work could go on uninterrupted and everybody was kept safe during construction," Linek said.

Tenants moved in last January, and an opening ceremony was held last month. Miller said the project speaks to how the local community can respond to need for such programs on a grassroots level. Independence Place also provides a model that could be used in repurposing other Cleveland Heights buildings, he said.

"The YWCA building was built during the 1920s, and most of our architecture dates back to that time," he said. "They were trying to build for future generations, and so it’s very sturdy, and we wanted to maintain that. With the adaptations we’ve made to this, there’s no reason we can’t use this building for another 100 years."

Linek agrees the experience has been a rewarding one. "To see something that we all thought of at Doty & Miller come to life and become living quarters for these girls is really neat. We built everything around the community room at the core, so by opening their doors these girls can congregate, learn from one another and share their experiences."

Independence Place is implementing the key elements of the YWCA’s mission—eliminating racism and empowering women, Mitchell said.

"When we think about the YWCA’s mission, we have to make sure we are thinking about those who are often last, lost and the least among us," Mitchell said. "That is where so many isms, particularly racism, can affect those who are boxed out of the system. With Independence Place, we are empowering these young women to be engaged and have opportunities to grow."

For more information, go to ywcaofcleveland.org.

Energy audit grants boost small businesses

2011-06-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published June 1, 2011 in The Heights Observer

Steve Presser, owner of Big Fun Toy Store in Coventry, is one of the local merchants participating in the Council of Small Enterprises' grant program for energy efficiency education. Photo by Kelli Fontenot
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Small business owners who are interested in saving money, improving conditions for their clients and reducing environmental impact can apply to receive one of 85 grants for energy assessments as part of the Ohio Small Business and Energy Efficiency Grant program from Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE). The deadline for applications is June 15.

According to Tim Kovach, COSE’s energy product coordinator, the $500 grants will be given to 85 businesses in Ohio, primarily in Cuyahoga and Lake counties; the Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo metro areas; and counties in Southeast Ohio.

The program, which was funded by a $100,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development, aims to educate businesses with fewer than 100 employees about energy efficiency, Kovach said.

Through the program, business owners complete assessments that reveal how energy costs add up, what upgrades are possible, how much they cost, and what the long-term benefits are. Thirty-five businesses that qualify for the first grant can get an additional $350 scholarship for certification through the Green Plus program from the Institute for Sustainable Development.

"Green Plus helps businesses to review their operations to determine how they can become more effective and efficient, and how sustainability can be incorporated into that plan," Kovach explained. "I like to view it as a comprehensive business improvement program. It is more than just an effort to green one’s business; it looks at the business’s performance, how it relates to its employees and the community, and what impact it leaves on the environment."

Big Fun Toy Store in Coventry Village is among the businesses that are participating in the program. Energy efficiency might not be one of the first things to spring to shoppers’ minds amid the extraordinary array of memorabilia, hard-to-find candy, retro magnets and quirky gifts sold in the city’s iconic toy store. But establishing a positive atmosphere for customers and reducing environmental impact are top priorities for Steve Presser, the store’s owner.

Presser submitted detailed monthly statements about the store’s energy usage to receive a customized energy audit provided through the COSE grant. Green Street Solutions came to the store to check pipes and potential leaks in the building, and identify other common building issues that might affect his costs.

"I’m frugal and I don’t want to spend a ton of money, but I want to find out what I can do to help the environment," he said.

In Presser’s case, some of the needed changes were obvious, such as upgrading from incandescent lighting, but others were less evident. "I don’t have the ability to take an infrared camera and walk around and find out where I have leakage," he said, explaining that the auditors did just that, and found a place in the building where air was leaking out and significantly increasing his monthly costs.

Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important for small companies, Kovach said, noting that not only are energy prices increasing, but research has shown that energy efficient companies outperform their competitors by 10 to 15 percent. In addition, energy-efficient lighting can make employees more productive and engaged, according to recent data Kovach cited. Furthermore, businesses with fewer than 50 employees pay 35 percent more than those with 100 or more employees, according to the Small Businesses Administration.

"Investing in energy efficiency is a great way to reduce costs, as well as free up dollars to spend on other areas that will help a business grow and increase the bottom line," Kovach said, adding that $3,000 grants will go to 25 companies to help them carry out recommendations from the initial assessment, he said.

Presser qualifies for the $3,000 grant through the Department of Development and said he plans to use it to pay for a more efficient air conditioning system, replacing the current unit at the Coventry Road location.

"It’s such a great opportunity," he said. "You could be losing $100 a month in energy costs, and for a small business owner, those dollars add up. With this grant, I can create a better environment for my customers, I’m saving money and I’m energy efficient."

As president of Coventry Village Merchants, Presser’s goals go beyond bringing his own store’s utilities up to date. Businesses in the area are working together to turn Coventry Village into a green neighborhood, he said.

Through a partnership with the Sustainability Plan Clinic at Baldwin-Wallace College, the Coventry Special Improvement District is promoting a neighborhood approach to sustainability, considering adding recycling in the restaurants and other initiatives to help Coventry become one of the leading districts in the city.

The City of Cleveland Heights offers corrugated cardboard and paper product recycling bins. In addition, Presser’s business uses spring water and recycles regularly. In fact, his wife, Debbie Apple Presser, is an artist who creates sculptures using recycled materials. Some of these are displayed in the store’s front window.

At another Coventry fixture, Tommy’s Restaurant, cars can pull up behind the restaurant to fill their tanks with biodiesel, demonstrating one of the many steps the city has taken to become greener.

"We want to create a model that can be used in other neighborhoods—an example of several businesses implementing [green practices] in a way that’s economic and efficient," Presser said, adding that this makes the area attractive both to shoppers and to potential residents, increasing the neighborhood’s value.

Kovach agrees that Cleveland Heights is already a leader in this area. By mid-May, four businesses had signed up to receive a grant, and several more expressed interest. As part of the effort to concentrate on specific neighborhoods and encourage businesses to collaborate, Kovach and Nicole Stika, director of energy programs for COSE, met with business owners across Ohio to share details about the program.

Whether businesses are interested in attracting environmentally-conscious customers, capitalizing on the potential to reduce expenses, being green, or saving the world, an energy assessment can help, Kovach said. "It’s up to the business owner to decide what’s most compelling for them."

Businesses can apply for a COSE grant at www.smallbizenergysaver.org, or by contacting Kovach at tkovach@cose.org. Businesses that are religiously affiliated or home-based are ineligible. The $3,000 grants are awarded on a first come-first served basis.

Heights Guitars' new owners expand offerings

2011-02-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published February 1 in The Heights Observer.

A variety of instruments at Heights Guitars

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Heights Guitars, the instrument shop at 2128 Lee Road, is now operating under new ownership, but it still exudes a welcoming atmosphere to accommodate regulars and newcomers. Customers amble in to chat and try out the new merchandise at the store, which offers a wide range of instruments and accessories, and specializes in hard-to-find vintage items and instrument repair.

Former Heights Guitars owner Gregory Stiles died last February. John Carden and Jim Ross, who operate the Vintage City shop in Toledo, took ownership of the Heights store in October, which employs salespeople and repair techs.

Varying musical tastes help the store’s sales staff cater to local buyers, according to Samantha Wandtke, district manager for Heights Guitars and Vintage City. Wandtke, who is also a vocalist and drummer for the local rock band Fangs Out, notes her style differs from that of the new store manager, local resident Darrell Branch. His genre of choice, she says, is bluegrass, a perfect fit for the shop’s roots.

“When we took over, it was more of a bluegrass boutique-style shop,” Wandtke said, explaining that the store now carries drums, keyboards, wind and brass instruments, and an expanded assortment of accessories. “We’re now a full-on instrument store.”

With guitars ranging in price from $40 to $5,000, recognizable Fender and Gibson electrics line the showroom walls. But the store also aims to maintain its local, little-guy style, seeking vintage and locally handcrafted items, as well as products from suppliers in Akron and other nearby cities.

Unique products at the shop include a Burgundy Mist Gibson ES 335 12-string, an 1890 Harp parlor guitar, a 1920s Ditson banjo-mando and a Gibson GA-5 Les Paul Jr. amplifier from 1956. The shop also offers vintage pedals from manufacturers Boss, Electro-Harmonix and Morley.

The shop provides lessons, which not all larger stores offer, Wandtke says. Five teachers at the store share their expertise in guitar, bass, banjo and vocals. Wandtke adds that Heights Guitars aims to host more events, inviting customers to hear bands play and get to know the shop’s staff.

Knowledge is a key asset to the small business, according to Wandtke, who says she has about 10 years of experience in the industry, having previously worked at Peeler Music. Erik Erdman, whom Wandtke and Branch refer to as the shop’s “tech guy,” expertly mends instruments that customers bring in for repairs. Though Branch's background is in IT management, he assured that he could name every guitar in the shop before he took on his sales role and later became store manager.

A longtime friend of Stiles, Branch says he used to come to the store often to visit with the store owner, a retired teacher who repaired guitars and greeted customers at the front desk. “He was a good friend,” Branch says. “We knew each other for more than eight years.”

Today, Branch aims to continue his friend's respectful treatment of both clients and coworkers, and maintains Stiles had a major impact on neighborhood youth. “Kids would come in all the time who knew him. They’d come in after school to play instruments or just hang out,” he said. “Greg always considered this place a sort of safe house. Instead of hanging out on the street, kids could come here. And they still do.”

Wandtke says that stores like this are becoming increasingly rare. “There aren’t many music shops left in the world, let alone in Cleveland," she says. "And 10 years ago, there were so many cool independents, and now none of them are left. “We need to be competitive with those big-box stores, and it’s about finding the right people to work with.”

Make a wish: 4-year-old cancer patient gets dream treehouse

2010-12-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published December 1 in The Heights Observer

A custom-built treehouse, completed this fall by Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteers, is a dream come true for 4-year-old Austin Gallagher, who has cancer of the kidneys.
Even before entering kindergarten, Austin has already lived through more hospital visits, CT scans and surgeries than many people do in a lifetime. In 2007, when a visit to the doctor showed something unusual in his X-ray, one pediatrician recommended a trip to see a pediatric cardiologist. After thorough investigation, parents Mark and Krissy Gallagher received Austin’s diagnosis: bilateral Wilms tumor, which affects both kidneys and usually requires partial or complete kidney removal.
Three years, six abdominal surgeries, and 130 days in the hospital later, Austin became one of about 200,000 children Make-A-Wish has reached out to during the past 30 years.
The organization’s volunteers designed and constructed Austin’s dream treehouse, which boasts two shiny yellow slides and a fireman’s pole, along with shutters, shingles and a 20-ft. x 20-ft. wooden deck, Krissy said. On the day, the construction was revealed, volunteers brought 100 colorful helium balloons for Mark to attach to the finished project, inspired by the floating house in Austin’s favorite movie, "Up."
Krissy said that the treehouse was completed in October, but it had been Austin’s big wish since December 2009.
"He looked up at me one day out of the blue and said ‘Mom, I want to build a treehouse in our backyard,’" she said. "It became something that we talked about and had plans for, something to look forward to."
Fighting serious illness makes these events and holidays hold special significance, according to Krissy, who documents birthdays, heart-wrenching doctor visits, and memorable moments in detail on her blog, krissygallagher.wordpress.com.
She writes: "I feel like we’ve been through so many years now of extra-special Christmas celebrations or Easter hunts or birthday parties, all planned and executed with a lingering fear that each one could be our last."
For Christmas this year, Krissy will share her own wishes for Austin, as well for her 6-year-old son Braedan, with what she calls "wishing stars." The stars, made from wood and construction paper, bear handwritten messages of humor and strength.
Krissy has hung up countless wishing stars in Austin's room made by family and friends, to remind him of all the people who care about him. From sleepovers and cartwheels to a wish that Austin and Braedan will be able to take their grandchildren fishing someday, the stars inspire optimism, laughter and hope.
The family has received generous support from the entire community, Krissy says, but it’s clear they intend to pay it forward as well, with Braedan taking an active interest in his younger brother’s cause. In March, Braedan shaved his head at a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event and raised $4,000 for the childhood cancer charity. In late November, the Gallaghers put their own Christmas lists aside and instead brainstormed on how to fulfill requests on the wish list of Cleveland’s Providence House, a crisis nursery in need of basic supplies, such as diapers and baby formula. "Austin immediately suggested we count out the money in our change jar so we could go to the grocery store and start filling boxes," Krissy writes.
Generosity and support have played important roles in Austin's life. When he was first referred to Rainbow Babies and Children’s hospital, the family met Jeffrey Auletta, an oncologist. Krissy said she appreciates that Auletta has always made the family feel involved in decisions, and is honest when he doesn’t have all the answers about their son’s unusual cancer. Bilateral Wilms tumor affects about 20 children in the United States annually, and Austin’s differentiation—his tumor was made up of mainly muscle, which is less responsive to chemotherapy—makes him even more rare.
Despite the illness, Austin’s strength, energy and joy have been evident. According to Gallagher, "He’s been a total trooper." Throughout his stays in hospitals, he loved to run at any opportunity, gleefully leading her through the hallways, while she chased behind him with his IV pole.
Although somewhat shy at preschool, Austin is "rambunctious" at home and at Rainbow, she said, adding that last Christmas, when his hospital room was filled with gifts, he occasionally fired foam darts at hospital workers with his new Nerf guns (In jest, Krissy assured, "He loves his doctors and nurses.")
Austin’s status has improved significantly, and if he’s cancer-free by April 2012, the family might finally be able to use the word cured, Krissy said.
Support from the Rainbow staff and the community has been invaluable, Krissy noted, adding that for every procedure and overnight stay, a friend or family member cooked dinner for the Gallaghers and delivered it to Austin's door.
"I hope he knows he’s lucky every day," she said.

Documentary sheds light on successful minority-owned businesses

2010-09-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published September 1 in The Heights Observer

If a documentary’s story is not worth telling, flashy cinematography and dramatic music won’t overcome an audience’s lack of interest, according to Tim Gaydos, a videographer for a new documentary by local filmmaking group Educo Films.

In this case, Gaydos said, the subject matter speaks for itself.

The 30-minute documentary, a concept developed by the company’s producer, Stephon J. Davis, aims to educate viewers about how to support and create successful African American-owned businesses in the Cleveland Heights area.

“I found a lot of times I was standing there with the camera, listening in, and I forgot I was there filming it,” Gaydos said. “I got sucked into what they’re saying because it’s so interesting. The point they’re making and discussing is so valuable. It comes across very well in terms of engaging the audience.”

The film company takes its name from a Latin word meaning “to draw forth or bring out.” Davis said that definition echoes the goal of the new documentary, “Creating Successful Black Owned Businesses.” Davis has explored many avenues of film production, from acting, to producing commercials, to shooting music videos and short films. Today, his efforts are focused on enlightening local entrepreneurs.

“Creating a successful minority business is not an easy task,” he explains, adding that statistics show blacks own only five percent of U.S. businesses and receive less than 0.5 percent of the revenue. “They’re failing at a higher rate. This documentary focuses on people who can shed more light on the inner workings of a successful minority business.”

The film features local entrepreneurs including Darian Tucker, a graphic designer in the Cleveland area; Cleveland State University’s Dr. Michael Williams, head of the black studies department; Mike Pruitt, who owns a Honda dealership; and Bob Lanier, of the Black Pages–a directory of black-owned businesses. Viewers will learn how they got started and how they do their work.

Using professional cameras, lighting, Sennheiser microphones and what Davis deemed a “standard, but cinematic” approach, Educo Films shot on location at more than seven businesses.

Some of the professionals in the documentary are struggling against chain stores and larger operations, Gaydos said. The film not only addresses why there aren’t more companies run by black men and women in Cleveland, but also what individuals within the community can do to help facilitate a more welcoming environment for them, he explained.

“It’s easy to pretend that these problems don’t exist, especially in the area where you live,” Gaydos said. “It’s a very local project to show people that even within their own community, there’s this problem, but it’s certainly a problem that we can solve. It’s saying, ‘There’s a way to fix this, and it won’t be fixed by people sitting passively and complaining about why they’re not getting their fair share.’ It’s about getting out there and making the changes for yourself.”

Another goal of the film, according to producer Jerome Brown, is to share insight with students at high schools, colleges and career centers. Within the next month or so, Davis is also hoping to post clips of the documentary on websites, such as Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo, with physical copies of the 30-minute TV version and an extended director’s cut also being sold for between $15 and $20.

Brown, who helped find and arrange interviews with the subjects of the documentary, said the stories within are both educational and inspiring.

“One of the interviews is with a man who worked for a printing company for some time,” Brown remembered. “The guy who owned the company wanted to retire and sell the business. And this man, instead of saying he wanted to move on and find another job, he went in and tried to find a way to own the company. He talked to the owner, and talked to the right people, made some connections, and in the end, he bought the company himself.”

Such a transaction might intimidate young entrepreneurs, Brown said, but with small payments and dedication, it is possible. “That’s a great message to send out to people,” Brown said.

Brown added that starting a business can be challenging to people who lack experience, knowledge and even knowing who he calls “the right people.”

“We’ve talked to people who’ve somehow found the path to get to where they want to be, and they’re successful or on their way to success,” Brown said. “It’s just something you don’t hear about on a regular basis, and we wanted to shine a little spotlight on them.”

The main goal of the documentary, Davis said, is to encourage young people to see the potential of such businesses and see what it takes to make it.

Davis said, “If even one person saw it and it awakened something in them either as a consumer, to support minority businesses more; as a contract provider, to consider a minority business more than they have; or as a business owner or potential owner, to realize the importance of providing excellent service, employing those in the community and learning ways to better structure and do business for maximum service and profits, then it was very well worth it. Because at the end of the day, that is what it is all about, making a difference in the world.”

Candy In Combat Zones

2010-08-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published in the May/June 2010 issue of Candy & Snack TODAY

In areas of conflict, candy serves as a welcome boost of energy for hard-charging soldiers, a valuable reminder of home and a bridge-builder to the local population.

In a massive show of support, suppliers, retailers, individuals and volunteer organizations send out millions of care packages and cases of candy to U.S. troops each year. John Hanson, senior vice-president of marketing and communications at the United Service Organizations (USO), reveals it sent almost two million care packages in 2009.

“Chocolate and candy have been a part of the military experience for a long, long time,” he says, noting candy ties in with the overall purpose of care packages, which he says is to let troops know U.S. citizens are thinking about them and hoping for their safe return. He says the USO looks for items that stand up to the conditions in combat zones and provide a lift to soldiers both physically and mentally.

As an example, Hanson says the USO has a great partnership with the New England Confectionery Co., Inc., which introduced Red, White and You Sweethearts for soldiers’ care packages.

“We got a huge response from people when we started putting in the Necco Sweethearts,” he says, noting the organization received feedback from parents based in the U.S. who were hearing from their sons and daughters in the trenches. “And then, here in the U.S., they started seeing the retail displays of the Red, White and You Sweethearts, so it had a double effect,” he says. “People were talking back here, and it really raised the awareness of the hearts and the Red, White and You effort.”

Aimee Scott, brand manager for Sweethearts, says Necco has been a partner of the USO for the past year, sending more than 400 cases — 86,400 one-ounce boxes — of the products for use in care packages.

“The response from people and the troops has been really overwhelming,” she says. “One of my favorite letters is from a mother who writes, ‘My daughter is in the U.S. Army. I received an email today, February 27, 2009; she was hoping I could find the Necco Sweethearts shaped candy. Can you help me? She’s been in Iraq since September 2008.’”

The candies are stamped with expressions including “Miss You,” “Home Safe,” “My Hero,” and “Brave One,” Scott says.

“There’s no doubt that a brand like Sweethearts evokes some kind of emotional response,” she explains. “Everyone remembers getting a box on Valentine’s Day, so to take that moment and deliver it to someone who is so far from home, it’s amazing how a little candy that has an expression on it can make someone so happy.”

Also supporting the troops, Mars Chocolate North America donated approximately 10,000 pounds of chocolate to U.S. troops overseas in 2009, spokesperson Ryan Bowling says. Currently, the company is shipping a three-month supply of its new Pretzel M&M’s to the top 10 USO airport locations for soldiers to enjoy while they travel and await deployment overseas, he explains.

Additionally, the company provides product and financial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, whose mission is to honor and empower wounded service people, and to the Fisher House, which provides free and low-cost lodging to veterans and their families receiving treatment at military medical centers. The M&M’s Character Vote promotion also benefits the U.S. military, with Mars donating up to $10,000 to the Fisher House.

In another USO partnership, the Wm. Wrigley Jr Co. is providing gum for the Operation USO Care Package Program, according to Jennifer Jackson-Luth, senior manager, marketing communications at Wrigley. Since 2003, Wrigley has donated more than two million packs of gum to the USO, she says.

Beyond the USO, non-profits across the country send care packages to soldiers. Treats for Troops ships to military men and women overseas and specializes in getting candy to those without access to a PX, says Jim King, of the volunteer organization. Candy is included in every box thanks to donations and support from suppliers, he says.

“We get tractor trailer loads every month from American corporations, and not a single one has asked for a tax receipt,” he confides.

The generosity of companies such as Kraft Foods Inc. and Lance, Inc. allows the organization to send items fun-size packs, which are said to be coveted because they are easy to stuff inside military gear, away from the elements.

“The great big bags of M&M’s are useless on the front lines, but the small packs are a godsend,” King says.

Reminding Soldiers Of Home

The Hershey Co. has also received letters of thanks from military groups, soldiers and their families in response to care packages containing its products, according to Anna Lingeris, public relations manager.

“We’re more than happy to support them in any way we can,” she notes. “We hope when they receive our packages, it helps them realize we really care.” For example, the company recently donated Hershey’s chocolate and Reese’s Pieces to help raise money for a man who climbed Mount Everest to benefit the Navy Seal Warrior Fund.

The company is also a sponsor for Operation Gratitude, which holds annual Halloween candy drives and collected 119,000 pounds of leftover candy to send to troops this past November, according to Carolyn Blashek, founder. “Hershey has been a huge donor to us for many years,” Blashek says.

“We do two big drives: one’s our patriotic drive in the spring and then the holiday drive in the winter. Primarily, packages are going to Afghanistan and Iraq, now more than ever, but also to ships in the Persian Gulf and a few other hostile territories."

Candy is an essential part of the care packages from a soldier’s perspective, she says.

Tom Neff, a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer who was stationed at Camp Fallujah and Al Asad in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, for six months, tells Candy & Snack TODAY he bought candy items from the exchange. He looked specifically for his favorite snacks, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Doritos.

“The PX at Camp Fallujah was kind of small and had a limited selection, but at Al Asad, which is a huge base, there was a much larger choice of snacks and candies,” he remembers. When serving, Neff was always glad to receive items from the U.S. He says: “When you see Hershey’s and Reese’s lining the shelves of stores in Iraq, it reminds you of home and why you are there doing the job that you are doing.”

C-stores, shopettes and service stations are included as exchanges, while commissaries do their business and give the profits to worthy causes, according to Joe Muck, former military sales manager for Lindt & Sprüngli (USA), Inc.

“The money the exchanges make goes back to the troops through the Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs,” he explains. “If a family needs assistance, the programs take care of them through the profits they make."

Jeremy Coupe, Sgt., 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, served in Iraq from 2005 to 2006 in an area where there was no stationary PX. Instead, a truck came through once a month carrying necessary items, he says. Most of the candy he consumed while serving there was sent in care packages from family members and organizations in the U.S. He notes Jolly Ranchers were his favorite.

“If it was something that I really, really liked, I’d try to hide it from my squad,” he laughs. “But for the most part, we’d share everything, because everybody would get things sporadically.”

Receiving packages from schools and organizations offering support was a humbling experience, he remembers. “I can’t count how many times I just got random packages from people I didn’t know,” Coupe adds. “It was a very odd, but awesome feeling.”

Sgt. Jason St John, with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, tells Candy & Snack TODAY that tough situations made him daydream of life’s little treats, and receiving packages from family members was a valuable pick-me-up.

“Remembering when those packages came in really evokes a smile,” St John says. “Everything was shared, making sure that all were treated to the reminder of home.”

In the field, non-chocolate candies are a favorite, says Navy Corpsman Grant Brown, currently serving in Afghanistan. “I still love Sour Patch Kids and love to eat them when they’re available, but what I’ve craved the most this deployment were hot cinnamon candies such as Atomic Fireballs, Red Hots and Hot Tamales,” Brown says.

Ferrara Pan Candy Co., Inc sends cases of Atomic Fireballs and Jaw Busters to soldiers who request candy in areas of combat, according to Lou Pagano II, vice president of market development.

“We’ve received letters back thanking us, and that’s worth more than anything,” Pagano says. “Some of them would use the Atomic Fireballs to stay awake because they’d be on patrol and some of the shifts would be 12 to 14 hours. Other people tell us they remind them of home and brought them a little peace in a place that’s not very peaceful."

“It’s to help show our appreciation for the troops, for the sacrifices that they make for our country It’s a small way that we can thank them,” Pagano says.

Using Candy To Build Bridges

In addition to candy’s popularity with troops, the impact it has on the local population is tremendous, Treats For Troops’ King explains, because soldiers offer the treats to kids who have often never tasted candy.

“We have a story of a Seal unit that was on patrol in a little village in the middle of nowhere in southern Afghanistan,” says King. “The team gave a couple of kids some candy and a Beanie Baby.”

The next day, he continues, a little girl was sitting in the middle of the road while a Humvee was waiting to get by. She was agitated and was pointing to where someone had hidden an Improvised Explosive Device.

“She was trying to warn the Seals because she didn’t want them to drive over it,” King says.

Nathan Barbanel, president of brokerage Danthan Military Distributors, Inc., agrees candy has been a bridge-builder between troops and local populations.

“When they give out candy, it is basically a tool to bridge the gap, to build friendships and relationships with the local population. It’s a very powerful tool because kids love candy,” Barbanel says. “It helps promote a more positive attitude toward our servicemen and women."

Operation Gratitude’s Blashek confirms that military men and women both eat the candy themselves and hand it out to the local residents.

“That’s really how we’re contributing to the overall mission,” she explains. “The troops in Iraq are going in and becoming part of the community, getting to know the people and developing trust, so people will want to join forces with the Americans to battle the enemy. One of the ways the troops start out in doing this is by befriending the children, which leads to conversations with the families."

Sgt. John Modzelewski, a veteran with the National Guard, says his squad occasionally handed out candy to locals while he was in Iraq in 2004.

“That was one of our favorite things to do, actually,” Modzelewski tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “It’s a good way to win their minds and hearts. Any extra candy we had, we’d give away.”

Modzelewski says he received packages from both his family and from organizations such as the USO. “Gum was really easy to get, but when you would get chocolate in the mail that actually survived the trip, it was pretty amazing. When you would get a Hershey bar, it was really cool,” he says. “It definitely boosted morale.”

Modzelewski notes he also went to the PX to stock up on Altoids and buy an average two bags per month of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Kisses while he was in-country. He notes locals loved anything that was American, especially chocolate.

Favorites In Combat Zones

Regarding troops’ favorites, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) stocks only its best-sellers in areas of conflict, according to Kathy Wulff, senior buyer.

“We keep the stock assortment narrow because of the logistics and storage challenge,” she adds.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, AAFES is responsible for providing soldiers with products they want and need. With the administration increasing American forces, candy buyers for AAFES will have challenges to face this year, Wulff says. “Troop surges make managing inventory challenging,” Wulff tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “We work closely with our team members in Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure we have inventory where the troops are located.” For Wulff and AAFES Buyer Randy Demster, the troop deployments mean research, strategizing, and of course, higher product volume.

AAFES shoppers spend more than $200,000 per week on candy in combat areas, Demster says. When choosing products, he says he considers market and industry trends, price point, shelf space, sales of similar products and customer needs.

“Our customers appreciate the fact that AAFES is there for them. AAFES employees in contingency areas are volunteers and conditions aren’t always the best,” Wulff says.

Soldiers want chocolate, she explains, adding it’s considered a comfort food. “Sometimes a Snickers candy bar can be a real boost for morale,” she says.

Muck says chocolate might be one of the most coveted items, but transportation issues often determine which candies make it to the trenches.

“In the field, the guys have meat snacks and confection items that don’t melt, like hard candies,” he explains.

At very high temperatures, products might not endure trips from the U.S. to Iraq and Afghanistan, says Barbanel.

“Afghanistan is landlocked, so if you ship it by ocean, now you’ve got to figure out how to ship it by land,” he says, adding that long shelf life is also important to military buyers.

One candy that stands up to such conditions are Chick-O-Sticks, which don’t break during transport and don’t melt in desert heat, claims Atkinson Candy Co. President Eric Atkinson. “It’s good, tasty, fresh quality, U.S.-made candy with flavor profiles that soldiers are used to. The tastes are such that the locals like it, too,” he notes.

Atkinson says the peanut-based products provide troops with extra protein and energy, adding that the company has received letters and photographs from soldiers appreciative of its overseas donations.

One soldier came to thank the company in person after he received a 30- pound case of candy while working in Mosul, Iraq. Atkinson tells Candy & Snack TODAY: “Anytime soldiers take time to sit down and send in a request to us, we honor them because they are out there doing the hard work. We just want to try to make their lives a little easier.”

Blashek confirms: “It’s a treat, and the sugar content certainly provides some energy boosts when they’re exhausted and tired. It also simply brings back memories of home, and that feels good when they’re so far away and separated from their loved ones.”

Looking back, Wulff says she remembers a photograph that illustrated the role candy plays in a military environment. The image, originally published in Time magazine, was sent to her by a broker for Mars years ago, she says.

“The photo, taken in Iraq, was of a soldier sitting on the back of a truck, and the truck and the soldier were covered with dirt. The only spot of bright color in that depressing situation was the red package in his hand. It was recognizable to those of us who work with candy,” Wulff says. “It was a bag of Skittles."

“A familiar piece of candy brings a taste of home,” confirms Demster. “Our customers are away from family and friends for an extended period of time and the little things like candy take on a whole new meaning.”

Grant aids Fairmount Group expansion

2010-05-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published May 3 in The Heights Observer

Entrepreneur Dawn Hanson’s company, The Fairmount Group, will be going global with much greater ease because of a grant from British Airways.

Fairmount Group received one of the 100 Business Opportunity grants given out by British Airways. It will enable Hanson to travel to Europe, meet with clients and expand her business from her small office in Cleveland Heights to cities in Finland and Denmark. The company conducts market research, manages brands and plans special events.

The grant includes airfare for 10 round-trip business class flights, five global shipments with British Airways World Cargo and $1,000 in hotel accommodations at Courtyard by Marriott.

While Hanson said the company embraces modern communications technology, one aspect of its success is its commitment to face-to-face connections. The grant will enable them to focus on building relationships with clients.

“A lot of clients I deal with are facing a change or a challenge,” she said. “They share proprietary information and there are non-verbal cues that go along with that. You can’t see all that on Skype. It’s a trust issue; people need to get to know you interpersonally.”

The British Airways grant is part of a campaign promoting such meetings in international business. Hanson said the company has been planning to expand business to Europe for years. Team members have worked in England, Finland, Denmark and Germany before, and familiarity with local languages and culture gives them an advantage.

Hanson recently set up meetings with eight prospective clients at companies in Finland, although the volcanic ash from Iceland delayed her trip.

Hanson earned a public relations degree and thought she would spend her career shaking hands and attending important meetings. She worked in communications for a private hospital in her hometown of Shreveport, La., and then in corporate communications for a bank in Washington, D.C.

After that, she moved to Finland with her husband, Olli Patrikainen, and worked for an oil company. For four years, she served as vice president of corporate communications for a firm in Denmark.

Along the way, she realized she wanted more. “I just got the itch that I’d like to start my own business,” she said.“I wanted to work with clients who share my values – education, diversity, women’s issues, the environment.

At The Fairmount Group, she works closely with graphic designers and public relations professionals to provide marketing services for clients including Microsoft, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and the University of Helsinki.

One of her company’s specialties is teaming with independent safety and security experts to develop crisis action plans. She has worked for a petrochemicals company and a bank to help determine what emergency actions would be taken in the event of an explosion or a robbery. She has also worked with schools to devise safety plans in the event of a shooting. Hanson said the company also writes comprehensive plans to communicate what has happened.

Right now, she is "flying" with the affirmation of getting the grant.

“It’s a wonderful vote of confidence from British Airways that they understand my vision and believe I can do it,” she said.

Walk aims to conquer childhood cancer

2010-04-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published April 6 in The Heights Observer

The first CureSearch walk in Cleveland, planned for May 8 at Wade Oval from 9 to 11:30 a.m., will raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer research.

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children, according to CureSearch. The organization, which works with the Children’s Oncology Group and National Childhood Cancer Foundation to fund research, will play a major role in the Northeast Ohio CureSearch Walk to Conquer Childhood Cancer, according to cochair Stephen Crowley.

Crowley and his wife, Cynthia Van Lenten, are organizing the walk. Posters advertising the event feature photographs of their daughter, Olivia, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in 2002. She was 7 years old. For the next three years, she underwent treatment, including chemotherapy in hospitals from Memphis to New York. Described by her father as a vibrant child who loved soccer and wanted to be a comedian, she died in 2005.

"She was full of life, and it made it really hard to see that something like this could happen to somebody like that," Crowley said. "My wife and I did everything we could to try to save her. We spent a lot of energy and resources trying to find a cure for her, so we decided to put the same energy and work into trying to help other children and other families."

With support from members of the community, Crowley and Van Lenten now dedicate their time to raising awareness, ensuring that everyone knows that the top priority is donating the dollars to fund the research that will help find a cure.

"Cure rates for childhood cancer have gone from 30 percent in the 1980s to 78 percent today. That’s amazing," Crowley said, "but that still leaves one out of every four children."

Stacey Brown-Walker, sponsorship chair for the walk, says she encourages local companies and individuals to donate and attend. All the proceeds of the walk will go to fund childhood cancer research.

"You can sponsor on a corporate level, you can donate individually, or you can sign up to walk. We will take sponsorships up until the day of the walk, and then after that, people can donate directly to CureSearch," said Brown-Walker, noting that on-site registration for the event opens at 8 a.m.

Several schools, hospitals and businesses have already formed teams and donated, including the Cleveland Clinic, Akron Children’s Hospital, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Orchestra, Crowley said.

Six members of the CUT Hair Studio team will walk and help collect donations at the event, according to Shawn Paul Gustafson, salon manager and community liaison. "We also will be working the crowd at Lopez Southwestern Food Kitchen on Thursday, April 15, and donating our tips to this cause," he said. "I personally, along with the great Lopez staff, will be working behind the bar."

Gustafson said visitors to the bar can enjoy half-priced tequila drinks, signature cocktails and food, while the rest of the business’s employees will share information about CureSearch with patrons. "It’s good to see the whole community coming together to take care of such an important issue," Gustafson said.

Organizing the walk has been a reminder of hope for Brown-Walker, whose son Caleb was diagnosed with clear-cell sarcoma of the kidney in March 2009. "He was a very, very active 4-year-old boy. He went through 26 rounds of chemotherapy," she said. "All through treatment, he played sports, like soccer and T-ball." Caleb went into remission in September.

"We are blessed every day that he is here with us, and we’re very thankful that he’s in remission," she said. "Once you’re diagnosed, there’s always the possibility that it will come back. But when he was going through treatment, we tried to take one thing at a time."

Brown-Walker said the walk is helping to unite the community. "I think that it shows support for the children who are currently going through treatment, or the families that unfortunately have lost a child to cancer," she said. "It gives them encouragement and it shows them that this is very real, and that we are working to find a cure for this."

Attendees will meet outside the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for early registration. For more information, go to www.curesearchwalk.org.

TavCo’s new owner launches upscale menu

2010-03-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published March 2 in The Heights Observer

The Tavern Company has a new owner and a new menu.

Chris Armington, who worked for 12 years at Brennan’s Colony as a bartender, server and manager, now owns The Tavern Company, also known as TavCo. “It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own business,” he says.

After signing the papers last November, his dream came true, and in January, Armington introduced a new menu for 2010. “If you’re a bar on Lee Road, you have to have wings and burgers, so we do that. But we also wanted to offer things that are a little more high end, and not be like every other bar on Lee Road.”

Additions to the menu—such as the seared tuna sandwich with orange pickled fennel and tarragon aioli on a crispy portabella mushroom bun, which replaces the old menu’s tuna melt—provide a more sophisticated take on the restaurant’s previous offerings. Other new items include sautéed spinach, soft-shell crab po’ boys and the pork chop—served with manchego-bacon polenta and maple thyme jus, a favorite of both Armington and his new chef, Jamie Wynbrandt.

Formerly a chef at Brennan’s, Wynbrandt points out that the bistro-style bar gets its bread baked daily by The Stone Oven across the street, and emphasizes, “From the fish to the French fries, everything’s fresh. Every single item on the menu is done with a purpose. You’re not just getting a piece of chicken on some bread if you order the chicken sandwich; you’re getting chicken with smoked gouda on focaccia bread, with sun-dried tomato pesto. We’re not just serving fried bar food.”

Prices for entrees (big plates) range from $14 to $21, with sandwiches ranging from $9 to $13, and small plates available for $4 to $12.

There’s no kids’ menu, but chefs are happy to prepare grilled cheese and other dishes suited to children’s palates, though items on the menu appeal to local residents of all ages. “A lot of families come here. Late at night, we get anywhere from the early 20s to grandparents,” Armington says. “Cleveland Heights people are loyal, which is awesome. We’ve kept a lot of the regulars—people who came here before and have been coming here for years.”

While the menu has changed, the wooden tables and booths, the enormous moose head over the bar and the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant have remained the same.

On a recent Saturday night, the dining room was full, and locals gathered at the bar to watch sports on four flat-screen TVs and chat in the laid-back setting. Bartenders serve up bottles and draft beers, including two local Great Lakes varieties, and wine is also available.

TavCo has happy hour Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering specials, such as $1 off any drink or shot, as well as $2 off small plates. Other specials include the “Five for $30” deal, offered Monday through Thursday: one bottle of wine or pitcher of beer served with two small salads and two entrees.

Armington seems to know everyone in the restaurant, and his friendly demeanor matches that of everyone from the host to the kitchen staff. Keeping a Heights focus is important to Armington, who says he also wants to showcase local artwork and possibly host local events in the restaurant.

TavCo is located at 2260 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Heights and opens daily at 5 p.m.

Social Media: Reaching Out To Consumers

2010-03-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published in the November/December issue of Candy and Snack Today magazine

The Internet connects suppliers and retailers with millions of consumers every day. Discover how networking sites can gauge shoppers’ attitudes, raise brand awareness and reinforce positive associations with the category.

As candy retailers and suppliers explore sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, they are realizing their impact on brand awareness and company credibility.

Social media is definitely sparking consumers, with more than 105 million in the U.S. using these sites. What’s more, two out of three participants in a recent social media marketing industry report noted an increase in web site traffic, subscribers or opt-in lists after investing just six hours per week.

“I equate this to the beginning of e-commerce. A lot of retailers looked around and said, ‘Can I really make money doing this?’ Some retailers didn’t know if they would have anything to gain, and others ventured in, and while it was not profitable for many years, it’s now the bright spot in the industry,” asserts Ellen Davis, vice-president of the National Retail Federation. “In fact, the online world is growing much faster than the traditional retail sector.”

One NRF study shows 60 percent of retailers added or improved Facebook pages in 2009, and 59 percent added or improved Twitter pages.

Social media’s ability to attract varying age groups is a plus, Davis notes. Brands targeting consumers between the ages of 15 and 18 might invest in placing information on Facebook rather than a web site because two-thirds of these consumers visit social networking sites weekly, according to results of a 2008 Forrester Research, Inc. survey that looked at consumer packaged goods marketing.“Before the holidays, companies seemed to be trying to gain as many Facebook and Twitter followers as they possibly could so that when the holidays came, they could promote different areas and direct people to their web site,” Davis tells Candy & Snack TODAY.

NRF research has also found social media is an effective way for retailers to reach other valuable consumers.

“It’s very popular among moms, who are a huge target among retailers. It’s also popular among more educated shoppers with higher incomes. And the young adult crowd, which a lot of retailers are trying to cultivate, is very active in social media,” Davis says.

But, she points out, it’s easy to overdo it. “Retailers should understand they need to exercise caution and be really strategic in how many times they reach out to consumers.”

Food marketing expert Phil Lempert defines social media as technology increasing the breadth and depth of word of mouth.

“It’s reputation on steroids,” Lempert tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “It’s really understanding what people want and doing it in a way that’s engaging and personal to them. Putting out an email with a logo and a price is not going to engage shoppers.”

Social media is a targeted, inexpensive and effective way to relate to consumers and build relationships that drive sales, he says.

Supporting his claim, a review of more than 100 companies’ media use from the digital consulting firm Altimeter Group and the social media platform Wetpaint shows companies with high social media activity levels — including Starbucks Corp., PepsiCo Inc. and the American Honda Motor Co., Inc. — increased revenues by an average of 18 percent in 12 months.

The least active companies saw sales drop an average of six percent during the same period, according to the study.

Twitter is said to connect more than 50 million users, and while that seems small compared with Facebook’s 350 million, many candy companies are exploring Twitter’s outreach capabilities.

Social Media Attracts Followers, Fans

Ce De Candy, Inc. has been operating its Twitter account, Smartiestweet, for less than a year, and Eric Ostrow, vice-president of sales and marketing, says so far the company has had only positive experiences.

Ostrow notes while it’s difficult to measure the direct impact of social media on sales, it is often just as difficult to isolate the cause of a spike in sales based on traditional advertising.

“It’s an inexact science,” he says. “Candy is an impulse item, except during traditional candy holidays when consumers write it on their lists, so you need something to make a little light bulb go off.”

Mars Chocolate North America Spokesperson Ryan Bowling says Facebook allows consumers to become personally involved with the company’s iconic brands.

The Snickers page has more than 270,000 fans, and the M&M’s Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR page has more than 4,500 fans. The company also operates a Twitter account for Ms. Green, the Green M&M’s character, which boasts more than 4,700 followers.

“Our core consumers’ behavior revolves around social and user-generated media,” Bowling explains. “So we create opportunities within social channels, enabling our brands and consumers to communicate openly, which at the end of the day influences purchase decisions.”

Bowling suggests consumers are the company’s best source of both information and inspiration for products.

“Companies need to respect and support opinions that might not always be positive on their respective social media pages,” Bowling adds. “Transparency and being genuine are extremely important.”

Joining The Candy Conversation

Cybele May, author of Candyblog.net, follows more than 300 accounts on Twitter, including candy companies and retailers.

She has been using Twitter — “tweeting” — since 2008 and blogging since 2001. May says consumers gain positive ideas about a company and connect with a brand when they post fun facts about products and a company history.

“There’s a life outside of what comes in the package,” she says. “A company’s web site is its brochure.”

In addition, May suggests part of what makes social media different is that when consumers tweet negatively about a product, they are scolding the company publicly. When a company responds quickly, it appears responsive, friendly and concerned about consumers’ needs, May stresses.

Brooke Feldman, communications manager for Chuao Chocolatier, updates the firm’s ChuaoChocoholic Twitter account, using her photo as the profile image. While it’s important to promote the brand, she says companies also need to develop relationships with followers.

“If I’m only talking about our product and never engaging anybody, it’s as if I have a megaphone, and nobody has a conversation with somebody speaking through a megaphone. I try to keep the voice of our brand and engage people,” she explains.

Feldman uses TweetDeck, a tool that provides a feed of Twitter updates from accounts she is following and keeps her plugged in to conversations about the company’s products.

“TweetDeck is constantly searching ‘Chuao,’ so if someone tweets about it, that will immediately appear,” she explains.

Feldman says the company utilizes consumer feedback, though it has not developed a system to gauge the effect “tweeting” has had on sales.

“We’ve used comments and responses from our followers and fans to show our buyers how excited people are,” Feldman says.

For The Hershey Co., Facebook has been valuable on the social media front, according to Anna Lingeris, public relations manager. Brands such as Reese’s, Twizzlers, Bliss and Hershey’s have their own pages, with Reese’s racking up more than 1.4 million fans.

The company has also made strides with blogger outreach, sponsoring events for BlogHer, a community for women who maintain blogs about products, travel, personal experiences and recipes, Lingeris says.

“There are a lot of bloggers we have good relationships with,” she says, adding, “They’re passionate about what they do, and have lots of great ideas.”

A Forrester marketing report on reaching females between the ages of 25 and 54 who say the Internet helps them manage family life shows 35 percent of these women visit blogs at least once per month, compared with 24 percent of people outside the group.

At the BlogHer Food 2009 conference, Hershey sponsored breaks and used its Scharffen Berger brand in demonstrations with Elizabeth Falkner, a chef who has appeared on Iron Chef America and Top Chef Masters.

“We provided samples and press materials, and saw a lot of online coverage after the event,” Lingeris says.

Hershey has explored other social media avenues, including smartphones. “We developed an iPhone app with Walmart, called Blow A Kiss,” Lingeris tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “It was a great way to tie-in an iconic brand that people know and love with a very hip, cool device.”

Spangler Candy Co. holds accounts on Facebook, YouTube and the photo-hosting site Flickr. E-Commerce Director Mattea St. John says she posts photos of the original Dum Dum Drum Man and the company’s historic factories.

In July, Spangler introduced a 99-cent iPhone Dum Dum Pops “Flick-a-Pop” app, which directs users to the company’s web site. By August, 50,000 people had downloaded it.

St. John also monitors TweetDeck for conversations about the company. “It’s a way for us to listen and get the word out about our product,” she says.

Spangler is developing ways to measure the feedback, St. John says. “We have a guest register in our store where consumers can say how they heard about us. A lot of people say they found us on Facebook,” she notes.

Some companies are hesitant to use these sites, but consumers talk regardless of whether the company has a voice in social media, claims Chris Abraham, president of Abraham Harrison LLC, a social media PR firm.

Social Media’s Drawbacks

“Type a company name or brand into a search engine and you’ve got product reviews and video results on YouTube, so you can get a feel right away about whether people are crazy about the stuff,” he says.

Abraham, who has 10,600 followers on Twitter and more than 5,000 friends on Facebook, explains it’s important to be aware of conversations so if a problem arises, there’s time to fix it. He suggests retailers can also use social media to find out what people are saying about a company before stocking its products.

“If they search and something bad comes up, that can be very bad for perception management,” he notes. “You have to worry about things that can be bookmarked, have a permalink, or can be referenced in a site like Digg.com.”

Consumers submit articles, videos and images to Digg, an open forum used to promote — or bash — any product or company.

Abraham says damage control for Twitter doesn’t always mean sending a case of chocolate; it simply requires a response. “People just want to know they’re being heard,” he adds.

The Federal Trade Commission recently cracked down on social media users to ensure ethics and reliability of product reviews. In particular, bloggers must now disclose whether they’ve received money or free samples in exchange for reviews and endorsements.

“Most bloggers were pretty responsible about doing that anyway,” notes Susan Whiteside, vice-president of communications for the NCA. “I’ve always been impressed with their professionalism.”

David Nour, social media expert and leader of the Nour Group, Inc., says companies should consider social media a way to drive awareness to a hub where the company is in control — a blog, a web site, or even an 800 number.

Nour studies how social media drives merchandising, research and development, as well as product launches. He has researched more than 200 networking sites, and says social media is most effective when used as a tool to engage consumers and gather their feedback.

“Years ago, we did focus groups, which were expensive and took a long time. I can give you similar feedback from Twitter in a matter of days or hours,” Nour says.

Before You Jump, Test The Waters

Molly Lederer, brand manager of Verve, Inc., set up a Twitter page to figure out how to use it before she began posting as the Glee Gum brand mascot, Glee Guy. The profile has attracted more than 750 followers since June.

“People are excited about promotions and want to know where to find the gum,” she says. “We send them a link to our store locator.”

Lederer tracks how many people follow the link. But it isn’t strictly about providing information; Lederer tries to avoid a product-focused voice because being too pushy can halt the conversation, she says.

“When someone says, ‘Oh, I love Glee Gum,’ we want to write back and say, ‘Thank you so much. Here’s a coupon.’ It’s a way for us to respond with gratitude.”

A study from Razorfish found 43 percent of consumers follow brands on Twitter looking for deals or offers, while 23 percent find the content interesting, 24 percent are current customers, and four percent are seeking service support.

The New England Confectionery Co. instituted Twitter and Facebook pages in 2008. Jackie Hague, vice-president of marketing, says social media is an important part of the company’s campaign for the Twilight Series Sweethearts brand.

One account, my_sweethearts, offers Twilight movie trivia with prizes. Necco also reaches out to bloggers involved in the movie’s fan community to spread awareness of the products, Hague says.

In addition, she says the company asked consumers “How do you say I love you?” And some of the responses have made it onto the products.

At American Licorice Co., Paul Barron, brand portfolio manager, says listening in on consumers’ comments is used in tactical planning for product improvement.

“We’ve heard that consumers would like reclosable bags, and that’s something we’re working on,” he says.

However, Barron says the company has not used social media to directly communicate with consumers. Though American Licorice is working on a strategy for 2010, there is much to consider, Barron explains.

“It’s very tempting to respond and participate, but we’d rather let our consumers keep talking,” he says. “We’ll engage them someday, but we want to do it the right way.”

About one-third of the people who use social media sites are sharing their opinions about products and brands, according to Richard George, food marketing expert and professor at St. Joseph’s University. What’s more, he says 20 percent are using it to seek advice and opinions about products and services.

George says using social media to provide coupons and other benefits to consumers is not only generating brand awareness, but also influencing behavior. By responding to consumer questions, social media can even reduce customer turnover, he points out.

“Ninety-six percent of people who had a bad experience with something before social networks didn’t complain. Social media changed all that,” he says.

Digg, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook give consumers an opportunity to share whatever they’re thinking with a click of the mouse — and, as George puts it, listening to them is vital to successful word-of-mouth marketing.

“The greatest advantage of social networks is advanced consumer knowledge — what they like, dislike, think about and how they behave. The better we know our customer, the better our business is going to be,” he says.

Vice Mayor Adele Zucker retires

2009-12-03T19:54:00.001-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published Dec. 1 in The Heights Observer

After nine years as Vice Mayor for University Heights, Adele Zucker will leave office this month. Her contributions include keeping a close eye on neighborhood services and never having to cut staff, something she attributes to frugal management by the mayor and previous councils.

Looking back, Zucker says she is proud of her accomplishments.

“To be reelected six times, I think that says I served the residents well. Because of them, I’m here, and I just love the city. It’s a great city to live in and bring up your children,” she says.

In the 49 years she has lived in UH, she says one of her most memorable moments was when she and her husband Henry were chosen as Citizens of the Year in 1980.

Today, Zucker, 77, is the picture of health. Her petite frame contradicts her feisty personality, but she expresses it in council meetings.

She chairs the services and utilities committee, meets with the council twice monthly and serves on two committees. Zucker was appointed to council in October of 1983 and ran in November for the two-year unexpired term. She was reelected six times.

Zucker grew up in Lancaster, Ohio and graduated from Ohio University with a degree in journalism. She says her job covering council meetings as a stringer for the Plain Dealer is what sparked her interest in politics.

She says she advises new council members to attend a forum to learn more about a council’s boundaries and responsibilities.

Zucker says she is most proud of having had a hand in the effort to pass a levy for the EMT program.

Gracie Smith, a woman who lived on Zucker’s street and whose husband had heart problems, started the grassroots effort to call attention to the city’s need for EMTs.

“We got it passed, because of her, and that was just so tremendous for the entire city,” Zucker says.

Now, every fireman in the city is a licensed EMT.

During her last month of service, Zucker says she will make herself available, as she always has. Her last council meeting is Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Then she plans to embark on a new journey – a cruise to the Caribbean with her family for New Year’s Eve. “That will be a finale to this,” she says.

“And then, when I come home, I will start cleaning out papers.”

At the farmers market

2009-08-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Aug. 13, 2009 in The Jambalaya News

A familiar sight – juicy green watermelons piled high in the back of a pickup truck – lures shoppers to the end of Bilbo Street at the Charlestown Farmers Market early Saturday morning.

Scotty LeBleu of DeQuincy has been selling these Charleston Grays and Jubilees from Singer for a few months, but he plans to grow his own watermelons next year. It’s a good thing, too. When he came to the market in the spring with his homegrown lettuce, customers couldn’t get enough.

“It stays fresh much longer,” he says. “I picked it like the day before. That’s what’s so good about the market – everything’s fresh.”

Buying natural produce from local vendors is also a simple way to go green. Farmers markets offer products that are not tainted by hormones or pesticides. Unlike a supermarket, a farmers market takes place outdoors and requires a minimal amount of electricity. The vendors live nearby, so they consume less fuel than it would take to transport goods from a farm across the country.

The Charlestown Farmers Market has moved three times since its opening in March of 2005, but it now takes place each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. behind the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center in Lake Charles. It is one of about 4,800 farmers markets currently operating in America, according to the U.S. Agricultural Marketing Service.

On Aug. 1, just before the start of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 10th annual National Farmers Market Week, people from all walks of life came to the market to form a diverse crowd of local farmers, professionals, retirees and students.

“It’s like a family there,” says Carolyn Smith, president of the market. “You get to know everybody, but they know that they can come to the market and they can shop and just about get everything they need for the week, for their meals.”

Smith tries to select vendors who sell homegrown vegetables, handmade crafts and freshly baked goodies. She also goes to the market every Saturday to observe, catch up with fellow vendors and faithful customers, and sell her own homemade jellies, jams, and soaps.

“You don’t have to go to the grocery store and stand in line, and you can socialize with the vendors, and you can get all of the information you want,” Smith says. “Eventually, these customers get to know us, and you’d be surprised how they come right back to us again.”

For Smith, the market provides a unique cultural experience and a little extra spending money.

For LeBleu, though, it’s a living.

“I always enjoyed farming, and I decided I was going to quit my job and start doing this,” LeBleu says. “You’re your own boss, and you can do what you want to do. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of.”

Other vendors share LeBleu’s sentiment.

Carvert Guidry has been at the farmers market each Saturday for about three years. At the market, he sells crape myrtles , dynamite crape myrtles (the richest red you can get, he says), blueberries, jasmine, and banana plants. He also offers his customers advice on how to care for the plants once they’re in the ground.

Guidry’s love of botany comes from a long-standing family tradition.

“I’ve always had a green thumb. I grew plants all my life, and I got that from my Grandpa and Grandma Guidry. They had beautiful plants in their yard. And that was like, 50 years ago,” he said.

Those days of cultivating fruit trees, flowers, shrubs, citrus plants and fig trees paid off and provided Guidry with a gratifying pastime.

Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at the farmers market can contact President Carolyn Smith at 526-4100. There are some limits to what sellers can bring to the market, but a few vendors offer less traditional farmers market fare.

Candy dolls – made of Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Rolls and baby doll faces from the craft store – peer out at customers who walk past the table of Margie Davis.

If the customers could eat the chocolate fudge brownie candles at her table, they probably would.

Davis says making these fragrant candles – as well as dolls, barrettes and layered cookie mix in jars – is a fun, productive hobby.

Items like this don’t exactly scream “farmers market,” but that’s part of their appeal. Dozens of vendors set up their tables to prepare for the day’s buyers, and each tent offers something different.

One vendor, Virginia Mathis, brings her homemade sugared pecans, old-fashioned teacakes, sweet potato pies, ginger snaps and gingerbread cookies.

“Sometimes, they’re sold out by 10:30,” Mathis says.

Many of Mathis’ baked goods are made without sugar. Her diabetic customers asked her to bake something for them, and she was happy to oblige.

Like Mathis’ pies, LeBleu’s watermelons are a sweet summertime treat almost anyone can enjoy.

Besides the benefits of buying natural products and supporting local folks, the farmers market offers another obvious plus: flavor. LeBleu’s melons, cucumbers, cauliflower and broccoli have what he calls a “completely different” taste in comparison to the produce at local grocery stores.

“It’s hard to explain,” he says with a smile. “You just have to eat it to see it.”

Visit The Jambalaya News online .

Go Green - Not Broke

2009-07-15T15:59:00.001-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published July 2, 2009 in The Jambalaya News

In some cases, going green is synonymous with going broke.

Hybrid cars and organic produce are expensive, but there are ways to conserve precious energy that will also keep you from emptying your wallet.

A recently completed housing development in Lake Charles is providing a new way to find out just how much energy – and money – people can save by going green.

The developer will have the opportunity to study and compare electric bills of a house with average fixtures to figures from an identical house with energy-efficient upgrades, according to CJ Tech’s Charles Abshire, the electrical contractor.

CJ Tech and Teche Electric Supply teamed up with Reeves Development for the project.

“There are about 200 houses out there. Only the last 23 that we’ve done have been green, and we’re going from there and doing 100 percent green from now on,” Abshire said.

The rent for these homes is between $600 and $800 a month, according to Jason Garcille of Reeves Development. Most of the renters are families with low to medium incomes. Some tenants can use Section 8 vouchers to meet rent requirements for the houses, which range from 2-4 bedrooms, Garcille said.

The families also save money in the long run. One 14-Watt Energy Star light bulb – that twirly fluorescent one – can replace a 60-Watt incandescent bulb and last approximately five years. Energy efficient electrical fixtures can cut electricity bills by as much as 30 percent, Abshire said.

Green thumbs

The completed houses are a result of the insightful planning of developer Bob Davis, according to Debbie Luquette of Teche Electric. For Luquette, Abshire, Jason Garcille and Aaron Brown of Reeves Development, going green was a new experience. “This is the third development I’ve done for this company, and they decided they wanted to go green this time,” Luquette said. Luquette worked with Teche Electric to select hundreds of light fixtures for the development.

“It was really exciting to finally get into that green thing. I don’t think anybody around here is really doing it,” Luquette said. Brown, the project manager, had never participated in such a project.

“There was quite a bit of research,” Brown said. “We had a good amount of meetings beforehand just to make sure that this was a viable option for us, that it was going to be cost effective.”

Federal tax credits for Energy Star homes are available at 30 percent of the cost, (up to $1,500) for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, water heaters and other appliances, according to energystar.gov.

From the outside, the subdivision looks ordinary. A just-finished clubhouse awaits neighborhood parties. Children play on the freshly laid sod covering each lawn, and trees – which were left unharmed during the construction process – peek out from behind each house.

These sleek new homes come equipped with Green Energy Star appliances, including a washer, dryer and refrigerator. Energy efficient or “low E” glass protects air from escaping through the windows, and the walls are filled with R19 insulation instead of the R13 minimum to keep air inside the house. The fixtures in each house feature fluorescent bulbs and quiet fans, Luquette said. The houses use split system heat air conditioning and low flow water fixtures. Even the low VOC paint on the walls is eco-friendly, according to Brown and Garcille. Moreover, the outdoor landscaping is irrigation tolerant and drought resistant. The stained concrete floors are scored to resemble tile and finished with a low VOC sealant for a glossy surface. This ensures low environmental impact.

“There’s no carpet that ends up in a landfill,” Garcille said.

The houses with two stories must use carpet made from recycled material, Brown said.

Interested tenants can contact the leasing office at Lake Fairway Drive. But for those who aren’t ready to make the full switch, there are a few simple steps you can take.

Going green

In terms of saving the environment, there’s no time like the present.

“It’s something good to get into now because it’s not something that is going away. This is going to be the way of the future; this is the building of the future. It’s just good to get a leg up and a head start on it,” Brown said.

Luquette said everyone should take at least a few steps toward energy efficiency.

Replacing regular fans with low E fans and incandescents with fluorescents can save money and lower the overall temperature of a home.

In hot, humid Louisiana, Luquette said, that makes a real difference.

“It just pays for itself. I’ve personally changed everything in my house, and I notice the difference,” Luquette said.

In 2012, Congress will begin phasing out incandescent lighting as part of a law approved in 2007, according to US News.com.
“People are scared of it. They’re used to incandescent bulbs; that’s what they grew up with. Times are changing. You’ve got to go with the flow,” Luquette said.

And, if you don’t like the look of those twirly brights, Luquette pointed out that a frosted floodlight that hides the swirl can be used in track and recessed fixtures.

Charles Abshire of CJ Tech said more attractive fixtures are becoming available.

“You’re spending a thousand more dollars in fixtures, but if you’re going to save yourself an average of $50 a month over the long term, you’re going to make your money back,” Abshire said.

Visit The Jambalaya News online.

SAB hits wall with Facebook

2009-05-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published March 25, 2009 in The Current Sauce

With Student Activities Board elections around the corner, some prospective representatives-at-large may face a conundrum concerning electronic promotion on the social networking Web site Facebook.

Marquis Montgomery, a senior Computer Information Systems major, is one of 30 NSU students running for a SAB rep-at-large position.

"I started an event on Facebook just to campaign and kind of get my name out there," he said. "That way, if somebody wanted to find out about my platform, they could just send me a message."

Last week, candidates applied for positions and received a set of campaign guidelines.

One rule states that candidates who relied strictly on fliers and face-to-face campaigning must take down all signs that are within 50 feet of the polls on the day before the election.

Failure to do so may result in disqualification and removal from the race.

But because there is currently no rule concerning the use of social media in the campaign, some students may encounter confusion when election day comes.

Montgomery said he does not think the SAB executive board will require students to delete their Facebook events or groups on the day before the election.

"I don't think it applies to Facebook; I think it has to do more with the campaigning that's done on campus," Montgomery said.

Many students, though, access Facebook in on-campus computer labs. Some students use their cellular phones to check Facebook while in the Student Union.

If the SAB decides to hold candidates responsible for electronic media's impact on voters on the day before the election, many of them may be disqualified from the race.

Sophomore general studies major Zachary Anderson has relied on word-of-mouth so far, but he said he will probably make a Facebook group soon.

"I think it's really smart," he said. "A lot of people, when we give them a flier, they just toss it. But most college students are on Facebook more than they are on their Blackboard."

Freshman hospitality, management and tourism major Tiffany Hudson said her Facebook event, "Elect Tiffany as SAB Rep-At-Large," has spread further than she anticipated. Hudson invited many of her friends and encouraged them to invite their friends to the group as well.

"Half the people in the group, I don't even know who they are," Hudson said.

With more than 175 million people visiting the site on a regular basis, it comes as no surprise. The average user has 120 friends on the site, according to Facebook.com.

Courtney Espenan, a sophomore liberal arts major running for a rep-at-large position, also created a Facebook group and agrees that it is a worthwhile promotion tool.

"It's a good way to go," Espenan said. "With all the problems with money right now, this is free."

Espenan, who currently serves as the executive social director of Phi Mu sorority, is accustomed to planning events on a budget and promoting them using different media.

Facebook is a way for her to keep costs low and reach as many students as possible.

"You can invite your friends, and they can invite their friends, and even if they don't join, they've heard about it," Espenan said.

Espenan and other candidates encouraged students to vote April 1.

Junior social work major Monique Chachere, who is also running for rep-at-large, pointed out that each vote makes a difference.

"Even if only five people go out and vote, there are about 30 people running for 14 available positions," Chachere said.

Phi Mu groundbreaking site

2009-05-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Phi Mu Groundbreaking Slideshow - Life

Criminal justice department offers tuition assistance to reserve officers

2009-05-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published March 18, 2009 in The Current Sauce

Only four students have submitted applications for the newly implemented Reserve Tuition Assistance program, which gives $500 awards to criminal justice majors who add firsthand crimefighting experience to their resumés.

Joe Morris, head of NSU's criminal justice department, said students who work 100 hours as part of the program will receive $500 toward tuition per quarter.

The academy for this program will begin at the end of this month.

In a small city such as Natchitoches, seven police officers might seem like a sufficient amount of protection to some, but there are times when the police department needs additional assistance to keep citizens safe.

"When you look at the Christmas festival, you get thousands of people here, and that's when this program will really come in handy," Morris said.

Lt. Guy Fletcher of the Natchitoches Police Department said the Christmas festival bumps Natchitoches' population of 20,000 up to approximately 100,000 each year.

The police department brings in officers from around the state, totaling 180 officers on traffic and patrol duty.

"Even though Natchitoches doesn't have an ordinance for it, people have learned the hard way that when you have an event with a lot of people there, you've got to have security," Fletcher said.

The reserve officer program has diminished in size over the years because at one point, the department was hiring reserves as full-time officers, Fletcher said.

"At one point, we were hiring from our reserves. So, we hired them all, and we never replaced them," Fletcher said.

Though some police departments do not consider reserve work as actual job experience, others look at it as a valuable step up from having just a college degree.

Even if they don't get hired right away, Morris said the educational experience is worth the time commitment.

"They will have a better understanding of what it is they'll be doing," Morris said.

Criminal justice majors can now earn up to $2,500 per year as reserve officers.

Senior criminal justice major Kevin Ashley said his classes have not yet received word of the program, but he thinks it's an interesting idea.

Ashley did point out, however, that he does not think $500 for 100 hours of work is an enticing offer.

Ashley said the reserve officers should instead be paid an amount closer to the pay of a full-time police officer.

"Cops don't get paid that much anyway," Ashley said.

Ashley said students who participate in the program should be able to collect regular paychecks instead of being paid in one installment.

"A hundred hours is a lot of work to put in," he said.

According to Lt. Fletcher, if a student completes 99 hours of work, he or she will not get the $500 payoff.

They will, however, learn a few valuable lessons.

Many young men and women enter the field based on the excitement of what they have seen in movies and TV shows, Fletcher said.

Fletcher, who was a reserve officer in the '80s, said those students are in for a surprise.

"It's not like it is on TV. I wish it was. I've been waiting for my Lamborghini to show up for quite some time," he said.

Paperwork and police reports make up a significant amount of the work officers deal with on a daily basis, Fletcher said.

"This is your number one weapon as a police officer," Fletcher said, holding up an ink pen.

Learning the significance of filing reports and writing tickets is another valuable benefit of the program, Fletcher said.

The experience with paperwork begins with the extensive application, which requires applicants to pass a psychological exam, a drug screening, a physical exam and a firearms training course.

The police department plans to conduct a background check on each applicant.

Prospective reserve officers must also submit a photograph and be prepared for interviews after they apply.

The students who earn positions as reserve officers will have the same arresting capabilities as a police officer, Fletcher said.

"The advantage of working in a small town like Natchitoches is the diversity of calls that we get," he said.

In larger cities, police departments are often separated into divisions.

Natchitoches reserve officers will take on a variety of different challenges, Fletcher said.

"It's a good place for people to find out what it's really like to be a police officer, but it's a good opportunity to give back to the community as well," Fletcher said.

Pi Kappa Phi dinner pushes for America

2009-03-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT and TAYLOR GRAVES

Published March 11, 2009 in The Current Sauce

At one of a dozen tables in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom Tuesday night, junior journalism major Cody Bourque leaned over his plate of lasagna to turn on his iPhone without using his hands.
The rest of the people at his table chuckled as they watched him repeatedly hit the touch screen with the tip of his nose.

"I'm updating Twitter," he said.

Across the table, another diner - who was blindfolded - said, "I feel so left out of this joke."

A few people chuckled, but a long pause followed as everyone realized the depth of his comment.

While the statement was offered in jest, it illustrated the alienation that people with disabilities encounter on a daily basis. Bourque explained that his work with such people and their families has inspired him to support Push America.

At Pi Kappa Phi fraternity's benefit banquet for Push America Tuesday night, three people at each table received a colored poker chip. Each color represented a different disability that the person was expected to portray for the rest of the evening. The rest of the people at the table were instructed to help their friends.

Senior theatre major Mandi Ridgdell explained that people with blue chips were "blind," those with white chips could not speak, and others - like Bourque - had to restrain their arms behind their backs to simulate the effect of not having arms. Bourque acknowledged that the exercise was a bit of a stretch.

"You can't say that being blindfolded is the same thing that blind people deal with - whether they're born with it or they encounter the disability later - but it's just a glimpse that allows you to empathize with them," he said.

The exercise might appear silly or even offensive to an outsider, but those who attended learned more than how to overcome the challenge of feeding lasagna to a friend.

Bourque's behavior illustrated the challenges that many physically disabled individuals face in today's society. Like many members of NSU's Beta Omicron chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, Bourque has devoted a significant amount of time and effort to promoting Push America, an organization that raises awareness and money for people with disabilities.

The purpose of this exercise was to encourage empathy for people with disabilities, as well as the numerous people who assist them in everyday activities. The organization also passes on core values of ability, teamwork, empathy and integrity to disabled people and the people who help them.

According to the organization's Web site, Push America programs were created to educate and provide a quality hands-on service experience for members of Pi Kappa Phi while enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. The biggest fundraisers Push America sponsors are the cycling events Gear Up Florida and Journey of Hope. Pi Kappa Phi members from across the country come to both events to raise money and meet people with disabilities.

Gear Up Florida is an 800-mile cycling event that averages $70,000 in profits, and Journey of Hope is the biggest national event for Push America. The 12,000-mile route begins in San Francisco, Calif., and Seattle, Wash., traveling through various cities before reaching Washington, D.C.

While raising more than $500,000 for Push America, the cyclists meet more than 100 communities on the route. The chapter tries to sponsor at least four Push America fundraisers each semester.

March 2-4 was a new one inspired by a fellow chapter. Members stayed on a scaffold for 48 hours straight, including two nights with 30-degree temperatures.The brothers sat in shifts outside the fraternity's house on University Parkway. Members of many sororities and fraternities stopped by the house to show their support and donate money.

"The best thing was so many [people] came and helped out and asked what Push was," Wil Adams, president and senior business administration major, said.

Adams said he hopes this event will become an annual fundraiser.

"I think it was a very good idea and can be improved for next year," Genny Broggi, sophomore social work major, said.

After two days, Pi Kappa Phi raised close to $800.

After the Empathy Dinner Tuesday night, Bourque explained that Push America stresses the difference between empathy and sympathy.

"Sympathy has that connotation that you're feeling sorry for somebody," he said.

Empathy, on the other hand, involves understanding and support instead of pity.

Bourque, who has participated in "friendship visits" with people with disabilities since high school, explained that a physical disability has nothing to do with the feelings and emotions a person can have.

The blindfolded student who missed out on the visual aspects of the Empathy Dinner, for example, was still able to appreciate the event and the conversation at his table.

"The joke was explained to him, and he got it," Bourque said.

'Assassins' trust no one

2009-03-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published March 11, 2009 in The Current Sauce

The parking lot adjacent to the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) building was left sparsely populated Monday morning, when it is normally difficult to find a space.

This curious change was due in part to the strategies of several students who are taking part in the second annual "CAPA Assassins" game.

"This is a really great way to meet people because you're trying to find somebody you don't know, or you're looking for someone who doesn't know you," senior liberal arts major Joshua Nuss said.

Nuss, the treasurer of Phi Mu Alpha fraternity, is monitoring the game this year.

Once 71 students (and one faculty member) signed up, Nuss added their names to a list. Nuss assigned each "assassin" a "target," whom the assassins must now locate and "kill" with handheld water pistols.

The winner will receive a $25 prize, but the rest of the proceeds - including the $3 entry fee each assassin must pay to play - will go to the Grant High School band program.

"Assassins" has raised about $275 so far, Nuss said.

The game began Monday at midnight and will last until every player is "legally killed."
As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., 27 players had been eliminated.

Allen Carpenter, a freshman music education major, has not made any kills yet, but he said he's playing assassins simply because it's fun.

"You get to shoot people with a water gun and get away with it," Carpenter said.

Assassins must report their kills to Nuss, who ensures that kills are valid and keeps track of who is still alive in the game.

"You can make alliances with people, and you can break alliances with people," Nuss said. "You can sit outside of their house and wait for them to take out the trash and shoot them, which actually happened 10 minutes into the game."

While some view the game as a way to bond with their peers in the music department and form truces with each other, others prefer to sit back and watch the chaos.

"It's really great when those alliances crumble and fall," Nuss said.

Carpenter agrees with Nuss.

"It's a sure way to see who will stab you in the back real quick," Carpenter said.

Each assassin was provided with a detailed list of guidelines concerning forcible restraint, psychological manipulation and weapon restrictions. Nuss noted that assassins are only allowed to carry two small handguns filled with water.

It's only fair, Nuss said.

"If someone has a huge super soaker that can shoot 20 yards, there's no fun in that," Nuss said.

The competition will continue to heat up this week until there is only one student left standing.

Students win at SAB Price is Right"

2009-03-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published March 4, 2009 in The Current Sauce

The Student Activities Board showed students a glimpse of the ever-fluctuating economy last night with "The Price Is Right," an event modeled after the beloved television show.

SAB Secretary and Treasurer Eddie Higginbotham took command of the microphone at Tuesday's event, channeling the enthusiasm and charisma of a classic game show host.

Higginbotham, a junior health and exercise science major, said he thought of Bob Barker while he was in the spotlight.

"I grew up watching the show, so it was easy," Higginbotham said.

Some of SAB's female members donned black dresses and acted as "Bob Barker's Beauties" for the evening. Higginbotham called several members of the student body up to the A. A. Fredericks main stage to participate in the game.

Students screamed their suggestions to freshman psychology major Dameisha Anthony when she got her chance to play "The Price Is Right."

Higginbotham asked Anthony to match three prices - $1.99, $3.69 and $1.50 - with three grocery items - a loaf of bread, a box of Hamburger Helper and a package of macaroni and cheese.

Students shouted in protest when Higginbotham almost matched the price $3.69 with the box of Hamburger Helper. She assigned the highest price to the bread at the audience's suggestion, but she was right the first time.

In the end, though, Anthony went home with a new DVD player and a box of The Cheesiest.

Contestant Jordan Higginbotham, a sophomore business administration major, attempted to guess the value of a George Foreman grill and was just three cents away from winning the prize.

Another contestant scored NSU glasses, an NSU towel, a Chili's giftcard, an NSU coaster, an NSU cozy, golf balls and a box of hot pockets.

Hannah Thomas, a freshman psychology major, won several prizes at "The Price Is Right." First, she won an mp3 player, a bottle of Fabuloso cleaner, cleaning wipes and Febreze.

Later in the game, Thomas guessed that a large collection of NSU gear - including a T-shirt, pants, a doormat, socks, binders, a bumper sticker, certificates for massages, folders and a planner - cost $250. The actual price was closer to $150, but Thomas won the entire package.

Thomas, a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, said she enjoyed the event and thought SAB should do it again next year.

"I've never watched 'The Price Is Right,'" Thomas said.

Lauren Michel, president of the Student Alumni Association, promoted the event within the SAA, and 18 members came to the A.A. Fredericks auditorium Tuesday night.

"Those events are what make up our university," Michel said. "That's what our organization is all about - supporting the university."

Graf guides team through game of basketball, game of life

2009-03-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Feb. 11, 2009 in The Current Sauce

Jennifer Graf, Lady Demons basketball head coach, said she could only think of one thing she dislikes about coaching basketball.

"It's absolutely beautiful outside in July, and we have to sit in a gym that's about 40 degrees," she said. "I swear, it's freezing cold in there."

Whether she's relaxing on Sibley Lake or attempting to wakeboard, Graf definitely prefers being outside on sunny days.

Seeking refuge from Tuesday's rain in her office in Prather Coliseum, Graf said most of her outdoor adventures take place during the summer because she spends most of her time during the rest of the year focusing on work.

Graf, 30, is now in her fifth season as head coach for the Lady Demons. The team has played eight conference games this semester and has eight left.

In addition to coaching, she said she likes watching movies, a pastime that she said can be beneficial during the eight-hour bus rides before and after games.

On the way to Saturday's game against University of Central Arkansas, though, the girls brought a few DVDs Graf didn't enjoy.

"We watched three horror movies in a row," Graf said. "That was terrible."

Graf said she turned her head to the side for some of the more graphic scenes in the film "P2," but not every trip involves horror movies.

She added that she wants to see "He's Just Not That Into You."

Before her trip to the theater, Graf will coach the team against the University of Central Arkansas this Saturday for a "Pink Zone" game.

"Women's basketball takes a week to try to raise awareness and money for breast cancer," Graf explained. "The girls wear pink uniforms, and we try to get donations for breast cancer research."

Raising awareness is a tradition that takes place at many college campuses across the country.

Graf said some of the Lady Demons take a personal approach to Pink Zone because they have friends and family members who are battling breast cancer.

"It really hits home," she said.

Graf said the team has already raised more than $2,500 this year.

The team has also succeeded on the court this year despite misconceptions involving age.

"I have such a young team - there are a lot of freshmen and sophomores this year - but they don't play young," Graf said.

She said she views that maturity as a result of the efforts of the upperclassmen who have guided younger players on and off the court.

"You just never know how a student is going to react to this freedom that they have," Graf said. "What do you stand for? What do you want to live for? You can't just stand there and let life happen to you; you've got to find out what you want and stand up for what you believe in."

When Graf isn't coaching, she travels around the country recruiting high school basketball players, focusing heavily on attracting Louisiana's talented athletes.

"If we can get the best players in our state, that's definitely to our advantage."

Graf said that recruiting these students is a unique experience because coaches sometimes meet players as early as their sophomore year of high school.

By the time the student has graduated she has a connection with her coach that continues beyond her college years.

"In college, you just have so much growing up to do," Graf said. "You're just maturing into the person you're supposed to be, and we get to watch that, and that's the amazing part."

LOB pageant winner poised for next competition

2009-03-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Feb. 11, 2009 in The Current Sauce

Brittany Pippin, a freshman psychology major, said she never expected to win the title of Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet.

"When they called my name, I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I still don't think it has really set in yet. It's such an honor."

Mandi Ridgdell, the 2008 Lady of the Bracelet, crowned Pippin Saturday at the 2009 LOB pageant in A. A. Fredericks auditorium. Pippin will receive a full scholarship to Northwestern State and will represent the university at the Miss Louisiana pageant in Monroe this spring.

Ten NSU students competed in the LOB pageant this year. Among them were sophomore theatre major Phylicia Felix, senior journalism major Bethany Frank, and freshman hospitality, management and tourism major Melanie Kay.

Contestants voted for Sara Mayeux as Miss Congeniality for the second year in a row. Mayeux, a junior liberal arts major with a concentration in scientific inquiry, has competed in the pageant for three years.

Jessica Lopez impressed the judges with an aria and won both the talent competition and a runner-up award.

Sophomore hospitality, management and tourism major Halli Hickman won the swimsuit competition.

Freshman business administration and family consumer sciences major Jordan McLamore was named a runner-up.

Junior liberal arts major Shanice Major, who riled up the crowd with her energetic performance of the song "Last Dance," placed as the third runner-up.

Sophomore music education major Katie Stockton won fourth runner-up. Stockton sang "The Man That Got Away" as her talent and cited Judy Garland as one of her role models during the interview portion of the pageant. When Garland auditioned for her famous role as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," she was told she was too "heavy" for the part. Stockton said Garland's determination to overcome that challenge inspired her.

Aside from the contestants' performances, LOB showcased the talents of performing arts groups and members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Each ensemble represented an era in history.

Associate Professor of Music Galindo Rodriguez directed the University Jazz Orchestra, which played during the pageant. NSU alumnus Sherman Desselle joined the Jazz Orchestra for a rousing performance of "I Feel Good" by James Brown to represent the '70s.

Donald Jones Jr., a senior theatre major with a concentration in dance and musical theatre, choreographed a dance to "It's A Man's World," and the audience responded with enthusiasm. Austin Babin, Ford Haueser, Dustin Gaspard, Zach Judge, Joe Hamilton, Jacob Starks, Corwin Barnes, Casey Bozenski and Julian Anderson were the "LOB Dancers." The Demon Dazzlers also danced to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

During the pageant, a few contestants stumbled through their onstage interview questions, but they had the support of a large audience that included many representatives of Phi Mu sorority.

Pippin, a Phi Mu, won the eveningwear and Liz Carroll People's Choice competitions at the pageant as well as the Miss Northwestern title. She said one of the first things she'll do as Miss LOB is give a presentation to the students at Forest High School - her alma mater - in Forest, La.

"It's a tiny little town," she said. "If you blink when you're driving through it, you'll miss it."

She plans to introduce people to "Love the Skin You're In," the campaign she chose as her platform for the pageant. Pippin said the goal is to raise awareness of eating disorders and work toward improving the self-esteem of women.

"I feel like society puts a lot of pressure on girls to stay thin," she said.

Pippin said she wants to encourage women to embrace their physical beauty no matter what society says. She said she is not a size zero or size two, and "never will be."

"I don't consider myself a very thin person," she said.

Pippin holds another pageant title - Miss West Carroll - and has competed in pageants since she was 12. For the past three years, she has attended the Miss Louisiana pageant, where one familiar face inspired her.

"I watched Mandi at Miss Louisiana and thought, 'I want to do that,'" Pippin said.

Pippin said she is excited to compete in the Miss Louisiana pageant herself this year.

"It's a week-long process, and it starts on my birthday, which is June 15," she said.

For her birthday this year, Pippin will have the chance to compete at the Miss Louisiana pageant.

SGA bill deemed unconstitutional

2009-03-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Feb. 4, 2009 in The Current Sauce

After weeks of deliberation, the NSU Supreme Court voted Tuesday that the lowering of executive board scholarships was unconstitutional.

A section of the Student Government Association constitution - Article 4, section 4, letter B - was deemed invalid and will remain as such until students have the opportunity to vote on the status of the executive board scholarships in the spring.

NSU Supreme Court Chief Justice Kyle Domangue and Justice Austin Jesmore headed up the hearing. Jesmore explained that the bylaw clearly violates Article 9, Section 1, part D of the constitution, which states that a two-thirds vote is required for all bills except those concerning the media board and the executive board scholarship.

The exceptions require a student body vote.

SGA Treasurer Lauren Michel, a member of the executive board, said she has been in support of the bill since it was introduced even though it reduced her scholarship by approximately $1,000.

The SGA budget is about $14,000 each semester - and more than $9,000 was appropriated for the executive board's scholarships, Michel said.

"When I realized that, I said, 'We've got to make a decision. Do we want to be a body that only governs and does not have any programming and does not use the students' money to help them - we use it only for ourselves? Or do we want to lower our scholarships, put a little more money in the budget and allow for more student-oriented things?'"

In order to allocate that money elsewhere in ways that might be more helpful to the student body, the executive board opted to sacrifice a portion of their scholarships. SGA President Cody Bourque, SGA Vice President Mark Daniels and Michel all voluntarily reduced their scholarships this semester.

Michel said the money may be funneled into various activities and student giveaways.

"We're not partial or impartial, but for us to have jurisdiction over this thing, we found a discrepancy with the whole thing," Chief Justice Domangue said.

Domangue explained that the way the vote was handled was unconstitutional - but added that depending on the way readers interpret the constitution, the scholarship changes themselves may be unconstitutional.

During the meeting, Daniels pointed out that he and the rest of the executive board voluntarily lowered their scholarships.

"This has not been implemented because it has not been voted on by the students," Daniels said. "And this will be put up for students in the spring. But, to be put on the ballot, it must be passed through the senate first."

After much deliberation, the justices called for a vote and made their decision in private.

Just before the close of the meeting, Domangue asked if there were any additional comments.

"When I gather enough good stuff together, I'll come back and appeal it to you," Daniels responded.

Ladies prepare for Bracelet battle

2009-03-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Feb. 4, 2009 by The Current Sauce

Five of the 10 Lady of the Bracelet pageant contestants met on a Thursday night to make plans for the hectic rehearsal schedule, discuss pageant rules and regulations, and of course, practice answering interview questions.

"What is your favorite book and why?" was one classic.

"I actually really did like Dante's 'Inferno,' but I don't think that will go over really well," junior liberal arts major Shanice Major said.

Sitting around a table in the Student Activities Board office, the contestants laughed and chimed in with some of their beloved titles.

"Somebody's going to say 'Twilight,' I just know it," freshman hospitality, management and tourism major Melanie Kay said.

"I'm in love with Edward Cullen," freshman Brittany Pippin joked. "I would marry him."

"OK, ladies," said Julia Anderson, the pageant coordinator, a patient reminder that they should be concentrating on the work at hand. She announced the dates and times of upcoming rehearsals and committee meetings as the girls pulled out their cell phones.

In jeans and sweatshirts, the girls didn't appear to be organizing a pageant. They were just hanging out, giggling, joking around.

But the contestants have a hand in preparing for - and even publicizing - the event. At the committee meeting, they made lists of locations for posters and attached stickers to gold wrapped mints to promote the event. The girls also composed their talent introductions and folded up T-shirts to sell as promotion for the pageant and Children's Miracle Network.

At the top of Anderson's list was a trip to the Cane River Girls' Home. The contestants decorated gift bags to bring to the girls, which included free tickets to the pageant.

Anderson also discussed a few pageant particulars, including the appropriate attire for escorts. Each contestant is supposed to request that an "important male figure" in her life escorts her at the pageant, Anderson said. They are not required to wear a jacket or tux, but some things are off-limits.

"Absolutely no cowboy hats," Anderson said.

The girls joked around in their down time, but with the coveted Bracelet and a full tuition scholarship on the line, they are taking the competition seriously.

The pageant

The Lady of the Bracelet pageant, a preliminary for the Miss Louisiana pageant, has been an NSU tradition for 50 years. In addition to showcasing the contestants' talents, this year's pageant will include appearances by other performance groups, including a jazz ensemble.

One student - the LOB committee chair - organizes every meeting and rehearsal with poise behind the scenes. Julia Anderson of the Student Activities Board has been working with the contestants since last semester. Anderson, an AOII alumna, said she plans to graduate in May with a bachelor's in social work. She is also working full time as an intern, working part time at Trail Boss and taking 21 hours in addition to working with the pageant contestants.

The pageant includes several competitions, including talent, evening gown, swimsuit and interview. Some contestants acknowledged the division of the intellectual and physical aspects of the pageant.

While the interview portion counts for a large percentage of the overall score, the contestants also dedicated a significant amount of effort to looking good.

One contestant, Bethany Frank, said she thinks that intelligence is beautiful, and that the pageant should be taken seriously.

Lady of the Bracelet Contestant and junior liberal arts major Sara Mayeux put it best when she likened the pageant to another situation.

"The synthesis between the two is that you're interviewing for a job. I might go into a job interview and give a brilliant interview, but if I'm not presenting myself well, they're not going to hear what I have to say. If I walk into an interview for Johns Hopkins medical school in pajamas, it doesn't matter if I made a 45 on the MCAT and have a 4.0 GPA and speak six languages. I'm not going to get the slot."

Mayeux said the pageant is not so much about "the look" as it is about applying for the job of representing Northwestern State at the Miss Louisiana pageant in a classic, respectful and professional manner.

The ladies

Ten NSU students will be competing in this year's Miss Northwestern LOB Pageant. This year's contestants include Mayeux, Frank, Major, Kay, Pippin, senior music major Jessica Lopez, sophomore music education major Katie Stockton, freshman business administration and family and consumer sciences major Jordan McLamore, sophomore theatre major Phylicia Felix and sophomore theatre major Halli Hickman.

Some of the girls said they are not the contestants people might be expecting.

"I know I don't give off a pageant-girl vibe," junior liberal arts major Shanice Major said, citing her blue jeans, T-shirt and loud voice as evidence. "I think that's a welcome change in the pageant community."

Major, a Louisiana Scholars' College student, has never been in a pageant.

"I've always wanted to do pageants, but I've done sports all my life, and that's kind of a weird combination," Major said. "I mean, basketball and ballroom gowns don't really go together."

Major said she was a point guard and captain of her girls' basketball team in high school. She also played softball, ran the 1600 and 3200 for track and served as a volleyball statistician.

Major said she has learned how to carry herself intellectually and has been exposed to many different personalities as a student at the Scholars' College. She hopes to spread that knowledge with the help of the pageant.

"I want to show that Scholars' College has a very diverse population," she said. "They're very social, approachable people."

Melanie Kay, a freshman hospitality, management and tourism major, also noted that the pageant is a chance to show off diversity and originality.

"I've always wanted to model, but since I'm not exactly a size two, that's something I've never really done before," Kay said.

Senior journalism major Bethany Frank said she has had a busy semester working as Editor for the 2009 Potpourri yearbook, but that she is definitely looking forward to the pageant.

While getting her hair done, Frank explained that she is not "society's beauty queen" and has never been in a pageant before. She said she does not expect to win, but that 16 hours of practicing how to walk across the stage is worth it if she gets to wear the Bracelet and support Children's Miracle Network.

Frank plans to write a personal account of her experience for the yearbook.

"Back in the day, the editor would crown Lady of the Bracelet, and I just think it's a neat little twist that now, the editor's trying for the crown."

The Interview

In preparation for the grueling 10-minute interviews each girl must face with the group of carefully selected judges, the contestants practiced during "mock interviews" last semester.

After mock interviews, judges told Kay she gave good responses, but needed to act more formal.

Kay said she thought the interview portion would be a chance to get to know the girl vying for the bracelet, so she treated it like a conversation and didn't try to put on a facade.

"Apparently, I have to go in there and be like a robot, like, 'World Peace,' and that's not who I am," Kay said.

Kay explained that while she respects the judges, she truly felt that her behavior in the pageant should represent her genuine personality.

"When I was little I looked up to pageant queens like Miss America. I thought that was so cool," Kay said. "I think it's important for young girls to have a role model."

Contestants for the pageant have to keep their cool under pressure, and the questions will cover a wide range of topics.

"They ask you everything from 'What's your major?' to 'How do you feel about the bombing in Gaza?' You have to be ready," Major said.

But according to some contestants, the interview is not the most daunting challenge of the competition.

The Swimsuit

During one portion of the pageant, each contestant must walk onstage in a bathing suit under A.A. Fredericks' unforgiving lights and the scrutiny of both judges and the student body. Mayeux has competed for the Bracelet and title twice before. She also competed in the Calcasieu Cameron Parish Fair and the Iowa Rabbit Festival pageant when she was in high school. She said she is not excited about the swimsuit competition, but that she passed on valuable knowledge to the other girls - including a special glue that keeps swimsuit bottoms from riding up.

McLamore, who has never competed in a pageant before, explained she is normally comfortable in a swimsuit at the beach or the pool because other people are in similar attire. For this competition, though, she thinks the reason for nerves is that all eyes will be on her. McLamore,

Mayeux, Kay, and Frank all confessed to being nervous about the swimsuit competition. Major agreed, adding that she does not think the swimsuit portion of the competition is particularly relevant.

"I feel as though it - not intentionally - but it discriminates against women who are a bit curvier," Major said.

Major and Frank both commented that because the bathing suit competition does not showcase intellect or personality, they do not emphasize it as much as the interview and talent portions of the pageant.

The Talent

Eight contestants plan to sing during the talent portion of the competition. McLamore's selection is from the song "Popular" from the musical "Wicked." Kay said she plans to don a white dress with a blue satin sash to sing "My Favorite Things," a song from "Sound of Music."

Only two contestants chose to deviate from vocal talent - one dancer and one bassoonist.

Frank said she has focused on her talent more than working on her abs or interview strategies.

"I think it's kind of contradictory to go out there and change who I am just because I'm going to be onstage. So, I go out there, and I practice my piece every day," she said.

Frank will play "Piéce" by Gabriel Faure. She has been playing bassoon for 12 years and now has a music scholarship at NSU.

The evening gown segment of the competition is another part that many of the competitors are anticipating eagerly. Some girls tried on dozens of dresses to be ready for the big night.

All of the contestants interviewed, however, agreed that the most important part of the pageant is its cause.

The philanthropy

Kay and Mayeux chose Children's Miracle Network as their platform to carry on the tradition of the reigning Miss Northwestern, senior theatre major Mandi Ridgdell. "What could be better than helping kids?" Kay said.

Other contestants chose new platforms that reflect their personalities. McLamore chose "Dress for Success," an organization that donates business suits to unemployed women who are attempting to find jobs.

Major chose a college-specific issue as her platform - STD Awareness in Minority Communities.

"I wanted to narrow it down because I don't feel that the message is reaching minority communities," Major said.

Major speaks passionately about her topic, even noting that she applauds condom companies for warning people about STD dangers in their commercials.

The platforms each girl chose speak volumes about their diverse personalities and perspectives. Students who present their current NSU IDs can get in free to the pageant, which will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. in A.A. Fredericks.

Students will have the opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award - and, of course, learn about their future representative.

"She's our Miss Northwestern," Anderson said. "So, why shouldn't we get to know her?"

Judicial hearing delayed

2009-02-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Jan. 28, 2009 by The Current Sauce

A technicality forced SGA Chief Justice Kyle Domangue to push back the date for a hearing about the constitutionality of the controversial executive board scholarship bill.

As required by the SGA constitution, Domangue must submit a letter detailing the time, location and subject of such a hearing to everyone whose name is on the bill.

Domangue sent letters to many members of the SGA - including President Cody Bourque - but failed to send it to Dean of Students Chris Maggio.

"That's my fault, and I'll take responsibility for that," Domangue said.

Bill FA08-030 reduced the scholarships of the executive board by a substantial amount.

The president receives $3,000, the vice president $2,000 and the treasurer $1,000 per semester according to the legislation.

But some members of the SGA, including Austin Jesmore, argue that the bylaw is in violation of Article 9, Section 1, part D of the constitution, which states that a two-thirds vote is required for all bills with the exception of a vote concerning the media board and the executive board scholarship.

These two exceptions require a student body vote of approval, according to that section of the constitution.

"The constitution directly forbids that action that they took," Jesmore said.

Bourque explained that the scholarship cuts would give money back to the students and the SGA budget.

"My main reason for supporting it is that it really locks down the budget. You know exactly what you're going to be spending on scholarships," Bourque said.

In addition to debating the constitutionality of the bill, those present at the meeting briefly discussed the possibility of including a definition of the phrase "fiscal year" in the constitution to clarify exactly when the fiscal year begins and ends.

Jesmore said this clarification would protect the current executive board so that if, halfway through a semester, the senate decided to cut the board's scholarships, it would not affect those in office.

"We wanted to take this hit instead of next year's editorial board," Bourque said.

He said the debate was no longer about whether the bill was right or wrong. Now, it's up to the students of NSU to decide.

"I will totally be in support of whatever decision the student body makes," Bourque said in an interview.

Domangue said the constitution clearly states that the scholarship reduction is unacceptable without a student body vote.

He also said he understood the executive board's reasons for wanting the scholarships to change.

"That's very commendable, but at the same time, it's just the legality," Domangue said. "I'm not aiming to please the senate or the SGA, I'm aiming to please the students."

Jesmore said the SGA must amend the constitution, remove the clause, have a student body vote and pass the bill through the student senate in order to change the scholarships.

The scholarships were originally implemented to keep members of the executive board focused on their jobs in the SGA, Jesmore said.

The new hearing will take place Tuesday at 8 p.m. in room 320 of the Friedman Student Union.

Rock concert benefits pageant's philanthropy

2009-02-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT

Published Jan. 28, 2009 in The Current Sauce

Dead By Morning, a local band that includes several student members, is making its long-awaited return to Natchitoches at a Push America benefit concert in the Friedman Student Union this Friday at 7 p.m.

The band's last performance at NSU took place more than a year ago.

Bass player and senior music education major Mitch Moehring said that after touring in Louisiana and Texas, the band is excited to perform for all of their friends in Natchitoches again.

In an interview, band members described their sound as "hardcore," "metal," and "inspirational." Among the bands' favorite fellow performers are The Devil Wears Prada, A Day To Remember, Marilyn Manson and August Burns Red.

Members of Dead By Morning include vocalist Chad Bentley, an NSU alumnus, and guitarist Michael Belew, who recently earned his music education degree at NSU.

Since their last performance in Natchitoches, the band has also welcomed the talents of a few new musicians. Joe DiMarco, sophomore music education major, plays drums, while Timathy Dorman, freshman theatre major, plays keyboard and "samples" - audio clips and sound effects.

A third new member, guitarist Gideon Cord Buchanan, is notoriously absent for interviews. DiMarco and Belew insisted that he exists and will show his face at the concert on Friday, which aims to raise at least $500 for Push America.

Dead By Morning's original lyrics promote positive messages, breaking the trend of hard rock's focus on death, depression and darkness. Their songs that do delve into these subjects offer a light at the end of the tunnel - advice on how to get through tough times, Moehring said.

Dorman added that the band's lyrics provide a refreshing contrast to those of other bands in the genre that students should be able to appreciate.

"I think it's a chance for them to get to finally experience post-hardcore music that isn't just the status quo," Dorman said.

Belew said the concert will also allow students to donate to a worthy cause that emphasizes empathy, abilities, teamwork and integrity.

"I don't think there could be a better reason for the concert itself," Belew said.

Mandi Ridgdell, the reigning Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, organized "Rock and Roll for Push America" and based the philanthropy aspect of the event on her LOB platform.

Ridgdell, who is dyslexic, said her personal understanding of people with disabilities and their need for support inspired this event.

"I wanted to do something different than just having a bake sale or selling T-shirts or something. I wanted something students could get involved in," Ridgdell said.

The concert will feature performances by 6 Miles II Point and Tyler Read, two of Ridgdell's favorite bands.

"They're all awesome," she said.

Ridgdell encourages all students to attend Friday and enjoy the music. She emphasized the benefits of contributing to an organization such as Push America and helping those with hardships.

"It makes you realize how much you do have, and it also just puts a smile on their face," Ridgdell said.

Read this article later

2009-01-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Jan. 14, 2009 by The Current Sauce

Procrastination typically involves watching television or playing Rock Band instead of doing homework, but some NSU students find more productive things to do while they put off working on major assignments.

Sophomore health and human performance major Brittany Gunner said she thinks procrastination can be positive.

Gunner said she puts off writing papers until the last minute, though many teachers give due dates for their assignments on the syllabus during the first day of class.

"For me, it's a good thing, because when I'm pressured to do something, I do it. At the last minute, when the pressure's on, I'm good at it," Gunner said.

Some students seek the adrenaline rush associated with a final deadline.

To achieve that last-chance excitement, students occasionally work on projects for extracurricular organizations or academic requirements.

Whether it's a research paper, a graduate school application or even just an e-mail, many tasks require concentration that people avoid.

One benefit of being in many different college courses at once is that there are plenty of other things to do while procrastinating.

Scientific American magazine recently reported that 80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinate at least on occasion, and 20 percent of adults are habitual procrastinators - meaning they put off just about everything, including things that should be done right away.

Lou-Anne Williams, who is working toward her Master's in heritage resources at NSU, was one of the students who chose not to procrastinate by showing up at Prather Coliseum on Monday morning for fee payment. She described procrastination as doing something other than what you're supposed to be doing.

"Let's say you have two weeks to do a project and you've procrastinated for the two weeks, and it's the night beforehand. You're like,'Oh, shoot. Now I have to do this, what am I going to do?'"

When Williams reaches that point, it's usually because she is working on many assignments at once. Williams works on her projects in the order of their due dates. If she has two projects due on one day, she said she tries to finish the project worth the most points first.

"Usually it's because I'm not ready to work on that specific project, and so I've actually gotten to the point where I procrastinate by doing other class work," she said.

"I wonder if that would actually be considered procrastinating by most people."

According to an article in the November issue of Scientific American, it's not. The article, "Procrastinating Again? How To Kick The Habit," states that procrastination involves delaying work on projects that are more consequential than others.

But Merriam-Webster defines the word "procrastinate" as "to put off intentionally and habitually" or "to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done."

Studies suggest that people procrastinate due to uneasy feelings about an activity and a desire to avoid discomfort.

People who are indecisive or distracted may also procrastinate severely, putting off things that should be handled immediately.

One psychology study conducted in 2006 showed that procrastinators had higher stress levels than others included in the study.

Fuschia Sirois, the psychologist who conducted the study with 254 adults, concluded that people who put off medical checkups also had more acute health problems.

Early detection of cancer cells and other medical malformations can save lives, so, in some cases, procrastination can even be deadly.

For the most part, though, students who put off writing term papers aren't in any immediate danger.

Teachers team up for new film theory concentration

2008-12-26T20:00:00.001-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Dec. 3, 2008 by The Current Sauce

English majors at NSU can concentrate in folklife and southern studies, professional writing, literature - and now, film theory.

The Curriculum Review Council just approved the new film theory concentration, which will provide students with the opportunity to study and analyze aspects of classic and contemporary cinematography.

Allen Bauman and Andy Crank, two English professors at NSU, conceived the idea of a concentration, as well as a Classic and Unseen Cinema series that will be open to the public.

Both professors teach a few film classes already and will be offering more courses next semester.

"We've been talking about this for a long time," Bauman said.

They, along with others in the English department, taught sporadic film courses but did not have a film studies program, though many other universities in the state do, Crank said.

Crank said some students tend to look at film as something that "just washes over them." They don't analyze or digest it, and that's something Crank and Bauman both want to change.

"It's all about getting them to think analytically about film, so they're not just consumers of pop culture and consumers of film, but they're analytical thinkers about film," Crank said.

The professors are adding screening equipment - new seating, a large flat screen TV, DVD player and surround sound - to a room in Kyser Hall that they'll use for classes next semester.

Some students are already taking their film theory studies outside the classroom.

Roxie James, an instructor for the English department, and English major Katie Magana are submitting a paper to a pop culture conference on connections between the novel "Dracula" and the movie "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Bauman said.

Crank and Bauman are organizing a film library that will help them keep track of all the movies they'll show students in class. Among Bauman's films of choice are "Blade Runner," "Vertigo" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Crank explained that even for scholars, these popular films are definitely worth watching.

"Sometimes people will look at 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' or 'Halloween' or something and say, 'Why are we studying this in an analytical way? There's nothing analytical about 'Halloween,'' but actually when you look at it there is a structure," Crank said. "And the way that it unfolds is within a larger film history and a larger theory and a larger paradigm, and if you start thinking analytically about that, I think that's important. I think that's an important tool for you to have."

Bauman said "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" marks a transition - moving from classic horror films like "Frankenstein" to the '80s slasher horror film genre. He encourages his students to watch the way the camerawork and lighting help to highlight characters' emotions.

Crank said his film theory class might watch "The Big Lebowski" when discussing how the narrator functions in film.

Bauman and Crank both said they love film and have been teaching film theory courses for years. These professors' interesting perspectives may provide cues for a film department at NSU.

The film theory concentration will not offer classes that teach students how to use professional cameras or make films of their own, though Crank said such courses may eventually become part of the curriculum.

Bauman and Crank both attended undergraduate and graduate schools offering film study programs and foreign film clubs. Crank said he would like to start up a similar organization at NSU to supplement the concentration.

In Crank's film theory class, students watch "Donnie Darko," "Election" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and analyze them according to time period and context.

"Ideally, students that graduate with this concentration, when they see a film, should be able to place it within an appropriate culture, within an appropriate time period," Crank said.

Crank serves as director of undergraduate studies, while Bauman is director of graduate studies.

Grat

2008-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

sby KELLI FONTENOT
Published Nov. 12, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Tipping is subjective, not a science.

The constantly changing U.S. economy has affected the way people spend, splurge and save. Some people have pinched their pennies in areas that they feel will benefit their wallets instead of others' incomes - like tipping their servers at restaurants.

In past years, a widely accepted gratuity standard has been 15 percent of a bill. Some cell phones even include a convenient "tip calculator" that use the 15 percent rule.

Many people stick to the 15 percent minimum. Others consider the server's personality, the quality of the food and the time it took for the server to bring it to the table.

It can be a challenge for a college student to tip on a regular basis, but it can be even tougher for the students who depend on those tips. Servers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, take customers' orders, serve food and sometimes work as cashiers, depending on the restaurant at which they work.

Amy Fain, a senior music education major at NSU, has worked at Sonic Drive-In on Keyser Avenue as a carhop for about a year - full time in the summer and part time during school.

She said her job at Sonic is rewarding, and that her tips are an essential part of her income.

"My tips pay for my food, and my checks pay for my rent and bills, so I do depend on tips from Sonic," Fain said.

A general shift is about six hours, and Fain said she can make anywhere from $20 to $30 in tips in a shift.

"Some days you won't even get any tips, but it just depends, like, I usually make anywhere from $80 to $100 in tips a week," Fain said.

Fain said she has seen customers tip based on a server's demeanor. She said she tries to keep a pleasant attitude while she's at work. She also tries to avoid giving customers the cold shoulder or "getting in their face." Some customers put money back in their purses when servers are rude, Fain said.

"Sometimes I've seen people even get money back out and go, 'Well, you were very nice and you smiled and you made my day,' and they give you money. It depends on you. You are your tip," Fain said.

A number of issues can affect a server's behavior. A server might end up handling several customers in one evening, and if there are problems within a restaurant - miscommunication between the kitchen staff and the server, a shortage of products or even a manager's bad mood - the customer sometimes gets neglected and takes it out on the server.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports a mean hourly wage of $8.93 for waiters and waitresses, but most servers interviewed said their wages are between $2 and $3 per hour.

Fain said she tries to tip well when she goes out to eat regardless of how good the service is. Lillian Hare, a senior psychology major, share's Fain's perspective. Even when her server makes a mistake or seems to be having a rough night, she still tips because she doesn't know what's going on in the kitchen or how many tables they have.

Hare advised people who don't tip to realize that their servers are not making the minimum wage they would at any other job.

"They're making below what's expected. A lot of people assume that you're making 5.15, 5.85, 6, whatever the amount is - but really, you're making barely enough to get by," Hare explained. "At the end of the week, your paycheck is the tables that you're working on. So, if you have a slow week and you don't have tables, you don't have rent."

Hare worked as a barista at Mr. Johnny's Café and Bistro on Front Street last semester.

Hare said her tips at Mr. Johnny's ranged from $0.20 to $10 a day, even though she made drinks according to customers' specifications.

She pointed out that a bartender can hand an open bottle of Bud Light to a customer and get a $1 tip, but a barista might make a coffee drink according to the customer's detailed requests and get nothing in return.

"If you're already paying $1.99 for coffee, why not spend another dollar?" Hare asked.

It may simply be a matter of ignorance.

Hare said one customer even reached into the tip jar when she was a few cents short of paying her bill, though the word "tips" was clearly displayed on the front of the container.

Hare said she also worked at the local restaurant Chuck Wagon for about a year before working at Mr. Johnny's. She said her work sometimes affected her studies. At Mr. Johnny's, she said she worked around 30 hours a week and tutored on campus in addition to her course load as a full-time student.

Even students who deliver pizza are not immune. Fain delivered pizza for a Domino's in Bossier City while she was in high school.She said most of her tips were only about $1 or $2, despite the gas expenses that most delivery workers have to pay for themselves.

Fain said she loves her job at Sonic and hopes to continue working there.

Hare, though, seems to have had her share of life as a server, and she said she doesn't want to work in the industry again if she can help it.

YouTube users share unique views

2008-11-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Nov. 5, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Some NSU students and on-campus groups are realizing the possibilities provided by technology and YouTube.com.

YouTube is home to millions of videos - from episodes of beloved '90s cartoons to up-to-the-minute election coverage - posted from locations all over the world, including Natchitoches.

While many NSU students use YouTube as a tool for finding music videos and episodes of their favorite TV shows, some students have uploaded their own videos of silly skits to the site.

Others use the site as a way of communicating with their friends and family members or sharing clever parodies of YouTube classics.

The addictive site attracts millions of people every day, and some of these videos are viewed by hundreds of Internet users.

YouTube isn't reserved for social networking and shows like "Ask A Ninja," though.

Student Government Association president Cody Bourque and vice president Mark Daniels posted a campaign slideshow to YouTube last semester while vying for their current positions.

NSU Exposed, the popular video series on Facebook highlighting on-campus events and fashion flaws, now makes its episodes available on YouTube.

Tyran Cosey, a senior business administration and CIS major, co-hosts the program along with graphic communications major Rickey Henry and NSU alumnus Kamal Dorsey.

The show, which comes equipped with a new theme song this semester, has attracted more than 1,600 fans on Facebook and has spread to other social networking Web sites.

A few organizations at Northwestern have recognized the impact YouTube can have as well.

One channel, Mcnsu, provides Internet users with footage of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching band performances.

Other YouTube directors have followed suit, posting videos of their favorite NSU marching shows, drumline cadences and symphony performances.

Some students use the site to promote on-campus organizations.

Sarah Sutton, 21, came to NSU to study journalism, but ended up being one step closer to her dream career.

Sutton films videos in her spare time and serves as the video director for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at NSU, using YouTube to share the BCM's message with the world.

Sutton plans to go to film school after she graduates next year.

In high school, she watched her best friends turn their hobby - making silly short movies - into a filming business.

Sutton soon acquired a camera and started filming videos of her own.

Her YouTube channel, Misayhara, shows several examples of her work, including a real-life version of the Nintendo game MarioKart and interpretations of "Lord of the Rings" and "The Wizard of Oz" with a religious twist.

Sutton said a "Dr. Who" spin-off is the only non-BCM video on her YouTube channel thus far, but she has plans to include more of her personal work in the future.

"Eventually, there are going to be trailers and full movies for my 'College Students Fighting Pure Evil' trilogy," Sutton said.

Sutton filmed the action-packed trilogy with a few friends and is currently working on the post-production editing.

The team used a high quality video camera to record the scenes. Sutton pointed out that she thinks proper software, microphone and editing programs matter more than the camera.

Some YouTube video bloggers post their videos without making any edits, but most use some form of software. Sutton said she uses iMovie when she's on a Mac and combines Windows Movie Maker and Pinnacle when she uses a PC.

She said she thinks iMovie is easier to work with, but that all three programs produce similar results.

Sutton's aspirations go beyond her YouTube experience. She said she hopes to write screenplays and start up a Christian film company of her own someday.

Like the BCM, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training located on campus also uses YouTube to share its message.

The NCPTT posts short video clips of a newscast, "Preservation Today," to raise awareness of environmental preservation practices and educate professionals in the industry.

Nationally, YouTube has been a means of informing the public about many different aspects of this year's presidential election.

YouTube launched a "Video Your Vote" feature in honor of the presidential election, encouraging videographers to upload footage of their voting experiences.

Viewers can watch the debates and wash them down with a comedic green-screen representation of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain competing against each other in a heavily edited "dance-off."

In the end, it doesn't really matter whether a user logs on to watch a video of a panda sneezing. A link in the sidebar may lead to a more insightful video. YouTube has crossed boundaries, linking the serious with the silly in a way few other Web sites could.

Violin professor takes center stage

2008-11-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Oct. 29, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Light filters in through the windows of Andrej Kurti's studio in the afternoon, splaying across the blue plush lining of his open violin case.

A small icon decorated with an Orthodox Christian image rests against the neck of the exquisitely carved wooden instrument. The low, clear sound of a nearby euphonium rehearsal seeps through the walls.

Kurti leans back in his chair at his computer, catching a breath after his hectic day of back-to-back violin and viola lessons and long rehearsals with the orchestra.

It's 5 p.m. and his day is nowhere near over. Each night, he practices violin for about four hours to keep his bow steady and his fingers in shape, building up strength for his next solo performance.

His concert, scheduled for Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall, will feature music by Bach and composer Eugene Ysaye, on whom Kurti wrote his dissertation for his doctorate. The classical pieces certainly reflect Kurti's skill, but his vast repertoire includes more than just sonatas.
Kurti, a professor of violin at NSU, has been featured as a recording artist for more than 45 albums on electric and acoustic violin. Dozens of posters and photographs are taped against a wall in his studio, displaying his past performances and future plans.

One of the images documents Kurti on the day before his 30th birthday, when he chimed in on an album produced by Blue Griffin Records to perform music by Pink Floyd and Queen.

Kurti, now 36, said he has donned braids to play with a hip hop label and tuxedos for more classical fare. When the spotlight is turned off, Kurti wears blazers, T-shirts and slacks, a red braided bracelet and a small silver earring in his left ear.

Some students identify him by his strong, lilting accent and social personality, which he attributes to his Serbian upbringing.

Others recognize his energy during halftime performances with the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. This year's Led Zeppelin show would be incomplete without his duet with saxophone professor Paul Forsyth.

One thing remains certain. No matter what genre of music with which Kurti experiments, he said he is sure of his destiny - violin performance.

A native of Serbia - Srbija, as Kurti spells it - Kurti inadvertently determined what would become his artistic future when he was merely 4 years old.

He was sitting in his parents' kitchen, listening to music. Imitating a violinist, he rested a cutting board on one shoulder and used a spoon as his bow, moving it in time to the song.

His parents saw his potential and decided the next step was to enroll him in lessons, Kurti said.

When Kurti was just 16, he traveled to Russia to study violin performance at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Kurti came to the U.S. and continued his education at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., then came to NSU for a job interview and said he instantly loved the town's polite, laid-back charm.

"There is something to Natchitoches, with all of these bed and breakfasts, and the craziness about the Christmas lights," he said. "I thought I was in a Walt Disney movie or something."

Now in his fifth year as a professor at NSU, Kurti teaches private violin and viola lessons to NSU students and works with associate professor of bassoon Douglas Bakenhus to help out with orchestra performances.

He acts humorous and energetic in class, but remains intensely focused.

In orchestra rehearsal, he often illustrates the way he imagines a particular phrase by standing up and demonstrating with an invisible bow, using his facial expressions to further the image.

His voice takes on the timbre of a decisive violin tone as he "ya-da-da-dahs" his way through the tricky intervals in a song.

In his studio, Kurti manages 19 students from places including Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Honduras and Venezuela, and is expecting two more international students in January.

Kurti occasionally asks his students to evaluate his interpretation of pieces before a performance.

This kind of feedback improves his perspective about the music, Kurti said.

"Sometimes they are shy, but then I tell them, like, 'Look, if I was you, what would I change?'" Kurti said. "And they make some good points."

Kurti said he looks forward to playing Ysaye's music, which he considers complex and very challenging.

"It sometimes sounds like there are two or three instruments playing at the same time," Kurti explained. "Very advanced. Crazy, but beautiful."

The concert, a 45-minute collection of solo violin sonatas, reflects the versatility not only of Kurti's musical gifts, but also of his role at NSU.

"It's a dream job," he said. "It's like, you teach one-on-one lessons, talk about music all day long and then have three days off the week to travel and do concerts and everything. It's awesome."

For a man who has traveled the world as a performer, Kurti seems content with staying in Natchitoches for the time being.

Lessons don't limit him; he still performs from time to time with different rock and classical groups in the area. The posters on his wall are a testament to his experience and a clear representation of the talent NSU has attracted from all over the world. Kurti loves to travel, and he said he would like to see his family more often, but for now, he said he plans to stay put.

"I know that my destiny is music, but where, I don't know," Kurti said. "I never want to push the universe."

ROTC cadets strive to meet goals

2008-11-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published Oct. 29, 2008 in The Current Sauce

Leanne Taylor, a sophomore psychology major, stretched her legs one Tuesday morning before a two-mile run test, keeping her muscles active for the brisk jog ahead.

Running won't be a huge part of her work after college - she plans to fly helicopters for active duty in the Army - but she said she appreciates the chance to stay in shape. She takes regular physical fitness tests to maintain her Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship requirements.

The Army ROTC elective curriculum at NSU prepares students to be commissioned as officers in the military once they graduate.

Among many other skills, cadets learn how to approach their opponents without detection and communicate with their peers as leaders.

Taylor, a Houston native, races with the NSU crew and works out on her own in addition to her physical training (PT) sessions with ROTC.

She wakes up at 5 a.m. to do sit-ups, push-ups and laps with the other cadets.

Even after years of training, Taylor still does not consider herself a morning person.

"Once you get up and you do it, you're like, 'Oh, I'm really glad I did that,' but the getting up part kind of sucks," Taylor said.

Kimberly Crosby, a freshman chemistry major originally from Shreveport, said she spends a lot of time in the armory outside of PT and class, but that she has come a long way since her modest beginnings as a junior ROTC cadet in high school. Her intentions weren't as serious as those of her peers, either.

"Honestly, it was to skip out on gym," Crosby said. "That's the honest truth. But it turned out to be a good decision, and I liked it."

Crosby said all of her best friends are in ROTC, and she feels like they have a family connection.

Like Crosby, Taylor says she relies on her fellow cadets for support and friendship.

"There's always someone you can call or someone to help you out with whatever you need," Taylor said.

A few weeks ago, Taylor went mudriding with a group of friends and got stuck in the dirt. The group called an ROTC cadet who helped tow the truck out of the mud.

"That was the first time I've ever done it, and probably the last time," Taylor said.

Taylor was a junior ROTC cadet in high school. She enrolled at NSU when she heard about the aviation science program here, but switched to psychology because she found it interesting.

She has been racing rowboats anywhere between 2,000 and 5,000 meters with the NSU Crew since the spring of her freshman year, when she decided she wanted to take a physically challenging exercise course.

She enjoys both crew and ROTC, but said she thinks ROTC is more difficult because it requires a greater commitment.

"In crew, you just - the physical element is there, and in ROTC there's a physical element, mental element and scholastic element," Taylor said.

In addition to the physical requirements of ROTC, Taylor and the other cadets participate in fundraising events and community service projects with the D.O.V.E.S., Inc. foundation, a nonprofit domestic violence shelter in Natchitoches.

Capt. Jaison Koonankeil said the group has also worked with local churches on various service projects.

Koonankeil accompanied the ROTC cadets on their six-mile run across campus one Thursday morning, inching along slowly in a large van. When a cadet stressed a leg injury, Koonankeil pulled over and picked her up.

Koonankeil said this year's group is cohesive and the cadets rarely complain about their work.

This experience will prepare them for their future duties as Army officers, he said.

Koonankeil arrived at NSU to work with the Army ROTC in September, but before that he spent five years in Germany and two years in Iraq as an active duty officer. He returned to America in October of 2007.

Upperclassmen hold leadership positions that prepare them for their post-graduation offices.

They guide the younger cadets, building up their confidence for tough events like the recent Ranger Challenge, a competition for which cadets run, navigate through obstacle courses and test their mental abilities.

"The Rangers are an elite group of infantry people. They're like the best of the regular Army. They're like infantrymen who carry everything on their back to accomplish their goal," Koonankeil explained. "Everything they do is physically tough, but also mentally tough."

The mental stimulation of the Ranger Challenge prepares students who plan to seek positions in the FBI and White House communications, Koonankeil said.

Applicants for these jobs are typically expected to provide college transcripts with letters of recommendation, and participation in the Challenge gives officers a concrete example of the cadets' work.

Riley Pendleton, a freshman general studies major, said he has not yet decided on his career path, but that military intelligence is on his list of options. With a class load of just 13 hours this semester, he spends most of his time focusing on his work with the ROTC.

"I'm kind of taking it easy this year, getting used to it - college and everything," Pendleton said.

The Ranger Challenge was intimidating for Pendleton, who said he wished the training for it would have started up earlier in the semester.

"It's pretty intense, like four miles of running. I wasn't really prepared for it this year, but next year I'm going to do it," Pendleton said.

There are about 54 cadets total in the ROTC program, including students at campuses in Shreveport and Leesville, Koonankeil said. The bulk of their education takes place at Thursday lab classes, when the students can meet on the Natchitoches campus.

Contracted cadets essentially agree to become officers in the Army and receive a scholarship, but non-contract cadets - usually freshmen and sophomores, Koonankeil said - are sometimes unsure of whether the Army is right for them. These students can experience the curriculum and benefit from PT while they decide. This year's group will be well-prepared for whatever comes after graduation, he said.

"They know they're about to enter the Army, and they know they're about to be officers, so they work hard to achieve that goal, but they're still able to have fun doing it. It's a good atmosphere," Koonankeil said.

Mystery shoppers stake out Sodexo

2008-10-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Oct. 1, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Students in Vic's who appear to be casually working on their homework might actually have something more mysterious up their sleeves.

Sodexo general manager Vance Howe teamed up with the Student Government Association this week to collect constructive criticism and comments that may improve students' campus dining experience.

The program will start this week if Howe can find at least two students willing to participate in his new "Mystery Shopper" program.

He plans to add $50 to the meal plan of each shopper as well as questionnaires to use while ranking the quality of the food and service they encounter. The students must keep their shopper identities secret and avoid tipping off any of the Sodexo employees.

A mystery shopper must eat at each location - Iberville and Vic's - about once a week, Howe said.

He said he will also consider sending student shoppers to the C-Store on campus - and Grill 155°, once its new location opens later in the semester.

Because the plans are still in the early stages, Howe may reconsider the project depending on the amount of students who are intrigued enough to apply.

"I don't even know if there are any students interested in doing this," Howe said.

Howe developed his plan after a discussion with SGA vice president Mark Daniels and student affairs commissioner Jason Thibodeaux.

"It's a partnership," Howe said. "We want to make sure that we're both on the same page and we're working together to improve dining services."

Daniels met with Howe after he and SGA president Cody Bourque visited Iberville around 6:20 p.m. earlier this semester and found many of the serving lines closed. The salad bar was taken apart, and employees were no longer serving French fries, despite the boiling hot oil in the fryer, Daniels said.

Closing down 40 minutes early is unacceptable for a cafeteria on a college campus, Daniels said.

Some SGA senators conducted an informal mystery shopper program of their own last semester, writing down some of the issues they noticed while dining at Vic's and Iberville, Daniels said.

Thibodeaux, a sophomore history major, said he and other SGA members have noted that the long lines and monotonous menus could definitely see some improvement.

This week is "crunch time" for the mystery shopper project, so Thibodeaux said he plans to fill out paperwork and meet with Howe to finalize things as soon as possible.

He is also on the lookout for potential mystery shoppers.

"I had talked to a few students, and they were really excited about something, some kind of program like that that would help the students," Thibodeaux said.

Thibodeaux said the SGA is looking for honest opinions regarding the "all-around experience" of dining at Vic's and Iberville.

One of Thibodeaux's priorities would be to keep more than one register open between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to cut down on wait time, he said.

Daniels also said that because Grill 155° may be open as late as 10 p.m. once it opens, he suggested temporarily keeping Iberville open later so that there will be at least one dining area open on campus after 7 p.m. in the meantime.

Howe plans to take these problems - as well as those discovered by the mystery shoppers - into consideration.

Daniels, who works as a chef for Mama's and Papa's restaurants on Front Street, said he is familiar with the culinary industry and mystery shopper programs.

The method has been a part of the restaurant industry for years. Owners and managers implement similar programs to keep tabs on their workers and make sure every entrée meets standards.

The mystery shopper program may be followed by a comment card system for students who want to offer their feedback.

Howe even plans to display a board comparing the time the mystery shoppers express their concerns with the time it takes to solve the problems.

"That way, you can actually see that there's something being done," Howe said.

Daniels said he has enjoyed working with Howe, the third general manager NSU has seen in the last three years.

The mystery shopper program will have students paying attention to what they eat - and to the students around them.

Knock three names off the list of people who may be mystery shoppers, though. Because Daniels, Bourque and Thibodeaux brought the issue of campus dining improvement to light, they've decided to stay on the business side.

Orchestra off to dynamic start

2008-10-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Oct. 1, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Audience members settled into their chairs in Magale Recital Hall Thursday night as Douglas Bakenhus, the Northwestern Symphony Orchestra conductor, prepared backstage for the first concert of the semester.

Onstage, his hands floated over the detailed score on his music stand, keeping time for the students with a precise inner metronome.

Behind the energetic conductor is a man who takes the historic significance of his song selections into consideration, making every movement meaningful.

The concert included several classical pieces, including Gioacchino Rossini's "Overture: The Barber of Seville," Giovanni Bottesini's "Duo Concertant on themes from 'The Puritans,'" and Ludwig van Beethoven's 7th symphony.

The 7th symphony was a favorite of many students who performed.

"We pulled it off," Bakenhus said.

Paul Randall Adams, a music education major and viola player in the orchestra, said the soulful aspects of songs like Beethoven's 7th are what inspire him to perform.

"I like that music touches souls," Adams said. "If I can help touch somebody's soul, then I feel like I've fulfilled my purpose."

Adams, who wants to teach music to autistic children after he earns a degree in graduate school, said Bakenhus takes a unique approach to conducting.

"I think he's really knowledgeable about the music, and he gives us the history of the pieces that we're performing. To me, it's always better to know the history because it lets me know what emotion to put into the music," Adams said.

Bakenhus, who directed college bands for nine years before teaching orchestra students, explained that old music fascinates him because the emotions transcend time.

"It doesn't matter if you lived in the 1800s, the 1700s, the 21st century. It doesn't matter what color your skin is; it doesn't matter where you grew up. You can relate to what happens on the inside of someone," Bakenhus said.

This "human condition" is the same whether you're wearing a powdered wig or attending classes at a university. Bakenhus said that if forced to choose, though, his favorite composer would be Johann Sebastian Bach.

Studying Bach's scores, including "Magnificat in D," which the orchestra and choir will perform later in the semester, fascinates Bakenhus.

Though much has changed since the 18th century, listeners can still relate to the sensations conveyed by the songs.

"We can feel what Bach felt," Bakenhus said.

Bakenhus analyzes the structure of the music before he begins teaching. For this particular concert, Bakenhus also studied Beethoven's history and read many of his published letters.

"What I like about Beethoven - and I think it's represented in this piece - is that he's triumphant. He took a bad situation - he went deaf - and he turned it into triumph."

Like many of Beethoven's works, the beginning of the 7th symphony sounds joyful and exuberant. The second movement is profoundly sad, Bakenhus said.

To Bakenhus, the movement represents a somber period in Beethoven's life.

"When he went deaf, he became very depressed about it at first, and then he wrote a letter to a friend saying he was going to grab fate by the throat. And I think he does in this piece. He grabs it by the throat."

Bakenhus describes the final movement as a total change. "All of a sudden, it's like the sun comes out," and the song lifts the audience's spirits with a victorious chord.

The man behind the stand

Bakenhus has come a long way from his beginnings as a fifth-grade clarinetist.

"I told the band director I wanted to play violin, and he said, 'Our school doesn't have strings. Why don't you play clarinet? It's kind of like a violin.' He just wanted someone to play clarinet," Bakenhus said.

Bakenhus later switched to bassoon because he thought it was a "weird-looking thing" and the idea of carrying around a larger case - to compete with his friend's euphonium case, of course - piqued his interest.

As a beginner, he was able to play the lowest note on the bassoon - something he has never heard another beginning student do.

Bakenhus got his undergraduate degree at University of Texas at Austin and later went to graduate school at Texas A&M Commerce.

"I wasn't even going to go to college," Bakenhus said.

When his high school band director, Karen Johnston, asked what his plans were after graduation, Bakenhus told her he wanted to be a truck driver.

She suggested that he audition for college orchestra as a bassoon player, but he said he preferred the idea of being behind the steering wheel of a big rig. He reminded her that he didn't make all-state.

"I'm not good enough," he told her.

She encouraged him to try anyway - after all, he had never taken a bassoon lesson before - and he took her advice to heart.

Today, Bakenhus conducts the NSU orchestra, teaches private bassoon lessons to college students and plays bassoon with a performance group, Trio de Llano.

His work may have taken him away from the road, but he has traveled across oceans for his performances with the trio.

In fact, he is leaving Natchitoches on Friday for a series of concerts in England.

Johnston showed up at UT-Austin in 2006 to listen to his doctoral recital.

"I told her, 'If it weren't for you, I'd be a truck driver,'" he said.

Coming up next

In addition to its performances in the Christmas Gala, the orchestra will perform a concert Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

Bakenhus said one of his favorite pieces, "The Camp Meeting" by Charles Ives, will be included in the patriotic concert.

Bakenhus originally wanted to hold the concert on Lincoln's birthday so that he could conduct Aaron Copeland's "Lincoln Portrait," but scheduling conflicts pushed the performance from February to November.

As it happened, the concert is now set for the day of the presidential election.

"It was just serendipitous, I guess," Bakenhus said.

RSO emphasizes equality, discourages discrimination

2008-10-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Sept. 24, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Lambda, a Gay-Straight Alliance and recognized student organization at NSU, encourages students to seek comradeship and acceptance. Lambda welcomes people of all sexual orientations, and membership in the group is not reserved only for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

Lambda president Larrie King Jr., a graduate student working toward his master's in graphic design, said the group wants to make a statement on campus this semester.

"We're still a new organization and we're trying to figure out how to do the things that we want to do on campus, but basically, we'd like to try and raise awareness and tolerance for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community, as well as other groups of people that receive a lot of negativity in general from other students," King said.

King plans to host movie nights every month for the rest of the semester. This month's movie, "Dorian Blues," attracted about a dozen students to the Varnado lobby Thursday night.

The group attempts to reduce homophobia, inequality, hate crimes and discrimination against the GBLT community, which Lambda parliamentarian Tim Gattie said includes additional groups, such as transsexuals and people who are questioning their sexuality.

Gattie, a senior English major, explained that in Lambda, it doesn't matter whether a member is gay or straight - they don't even ask. As Gattie put it, "Everyone's a human being."

Gattie also pointed out that Lambda's message does not focus only on GLBT rights.

"It is about being individuals and recognizing that we all come from different kinds of aspects," Gattie said. "My coming out story is unique, as is anybody's. And, you know, even a straight person's coming out story - they really don't think that they have one, but they do."

The straight community is an important part of the organization as well. "Straight allies" - heterosexual people who support GLBT equality - lend a unique perspective and voice to Lambda and similar organizations, according to the Lambda Web site.

Lambda's NSU chapter will host several events throughout the year, including the annual Day of Silence during the spring semester, King said.

"We don't speak for a day in order to represent those who don't have a voice in their community or in their nation, and that's everyone from the GLBT community to battered women, abused children, everybody like that. And it's a really powerful day, I think, and it's really symbolic of the changes we'd like to make," King said.

The taciturn participants carry cards with them during the day as an explanation for those unfamiliar with the event. King said some members make exceptions during class, but that it's the message that counts.

Another important event for Lambda is National Coming Out Day, scheduled for Oct. 11.

A few years ago, National Coming Out Day proved that there is still tension between members of Lambda and some students at NSU.

The first time Lambda attempted to raise awareness for National Coming Out Day on campus, one of the officers created a large poster and put it up in the Friedman Student Union.

The organization left pencils near the poster and encouraged students to write their own short stories and advice for people who were considering coming out.

By the next day, people had scribbled quotations from the Bible on the banner, followed by "God hates fags" and other hateful comments, Gattie said.

Gattie said he personally found the comments amusing instead of offensive. Still, such intolerance is precisely what Lambda members aim to change.

"It's that kind of thing that we hope to stop," Gattie said.

King, the organization's president, noted that National Coming Out Day is an event for which the Gay-Straight Alliance tries to create a comfortable environment for members to express themselves if they feel motivated to speak out - and come out.

"Lambda tries to create a safe place for people to do that where they won't be ridiculed and so that they can see the people who have done it before them," Gattie said.

Gattie came out to select friends in his freshman year of high school, then moved to New York. When Gattie came out to his family a few years later, he said his parents weren't surprised.

"I was wearing at least three or four rainbows a day. It was kind of obvious," Gattie said.

The rainbow has become a widely recognized gay pride symbol, and it is actually incorporated into one of the Lambda association's flags. The flag depicts a rainbow, a pink triangle and the Greek letter in an arrangement that echoes the American flag. The Gay Activists Alliance of New York adopted the lambda as a symbol in 1970, according to the Lambda Web site.

There are several theories about the reasoning behind the rainbow as a symbol of the GBLT community, but Gattie summed up his favorite explanation.

"The one that works for me is the idea that the rainbow shows all the different colors, and it shows all of the different colors in society...just like all the different sexualities that we have, but then, it doesn't try to merge them or push them into one form, but it recognizes each and every one of them," Gattie said.

The NSU Lambda association holds meetings every Thursdays in room 221 in the Student Union.

Taking students to the history

2008-10-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published in the July 2008 issue of Women In Business, a publication of The Dalles Chronicle

Taking students to the history
Paulette Brook, history teacher

Paulette Brook readily admits to her nerdy tendencies. She loves researching archives at the library. She wears thick-framed black glasses. She prides herself on her realistic chicken impersonation. She lacks plumage, but when duty calls, Paulette balances on one leg, flaps her arms, pecks at the air with her chin and makes a clucking noise in the back of her throat.

For a self-proclaimed "boring person," Paulette has seen quite a bit of the world. She lived in Costa Rica as an exchange student for a summer in high school. She has visited every country in Central America. She managed a doll-making company called "Heartwarming Creations" that sold about $250,000 worth of handmade dolls. She worked at a jewelry store, and later at an airport as a ramp agent (the people on the runway who signal directions to the pilot with reflective wands). She went to college as a 40-year-old with two grown kids. And next summer, she plans to take a group of nearly 30 high school students on a trip to Europe to study World War II sites.

When Paulette started teaching 9th grade history at The Dalles Wahtonka High School four years ago, she knew the best way to get kids to learn and appreciate history was to pull them out of their textbooks and make them experience it for themselves. In class one day, she suggested that the students take a trip to Europe. She asked how many students would be interested, and most of them raised their hands.

"I think they thought that I was just getting them to chitchat about stuff. Well, I came home and I did some research on tour companies, and I contacted one and they sent me information. And I said, 'OK, I want to do this tour.'"

The tour group, Education First, leads high school students to historical sites in several different cities, including London, Paris, Berlin and Munich. Some students might show more interest in gazing at the Eiffel Tower or shopping at Dior than perusing the artifacts of the imperial war rooms in London or witnessing the beachheads of Normandy, but Paulette says the World War I - World War II class will prepare them for the sites they will visit.

"My job is to make sure that those kids understand that we are going there somewhat as a pilgrimage to the people who sacrificed so much so that we could have what we have now."

Paulette's education philosophy emphasizes physical learning. Students should see real buildings, build detailed replicas and discuss history with other people so that they can do more than grasp at challenging concepts. Paulette plans to put her students in regular contact with World War II veterans next year so that by the time they take the trip, students will have personal associations with the locations they see.

Physical experiences like this, Paulette says, can become memories that help spark ideas in the classroom. This is one way she says we can preserve dwindling culture. Paulette also encourages her students to read, have discussions in class and seek entertainment in education rather than more frivolous things, like the E! Channel.

Paulette says she tries to make history "palatable." In the classroom, her sense of humor plays an important role in connecting with students. At the beginning of the year, she said some students would enter the classroom with bored expressions on their faces. To get their attention, she told them they would have to dance the funky chicken if they didn't perk up. She followed that comment with her own squawking, flapping demonstration. Of course, the ludicrous assignment was not without reason.

"You have to be a little zany in the classroom in order to keep kids engaged."

She encourages conversations, uses the art of digression (sparingly, of course) and keeps a "House"-esque cane behind her podium so that she can perform her impression of Dr. House (from the popular television show) at a moment's notice.

Next year, Paulette will certainly have to generate interest in her class offerings. The Dalles Wahtonka now offers 9th grade history classes as electives instead of required courses.

Paulette's course list comprises the World War I - World War II class, two Oregon history classes, a language arts class for bilingual students, an honors history course and a historical crafts class.

Even though she is making plans for the upcoming trip to Europe, Paulette says she is most excited about her historical crafts class. To organize the class, she teamed up with a member of the Historic The Dalles Days committee and contacted historic art guilds in the city. Students will learn how to perform lost 20th-century arts like candle-making, wool-spinning, soap-making, blacksmithing, woodworking and wagon-making. The class will study each activity and try it firsthand with the help of professionals.

Paulette says teaching these rare skills could make students feel valuable and unique. Elementary school students often visit historic parks on field trips, but Paulette says that high school students are better equipped to understand the concept and significance of creating simple objects with ancient tools.

"It's the older kids who I think can actually grasp the applications of some of these things. You don't want a small six-year-old or a seven-year-old playing with a tool that a blacksmith would be using. But that's something that a teenager can start to learn how to use, and with proper education, they can make some wonderful things with it. Some of those old-timey crafts are kind of making a resurgence, and I think that's a good thing because when you lose those, you lose part of your culture."

Paulette acts comical in the classroom, but she says she feels serious about life. She says people will get more out of life by trying to preserve dwindling traditions, improve the world and make a difference than by constantly seeking entertainment at movie theaters. Paulette's a shining example: the last film she saw at a cinema was "Saving Private Ryan."

Taking Heart

2008-10-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

by KELLI FONTENOT
Published in the July 2008 edition of Women In Business, a publication of The Dalles Chronicle

Taking Heart
Nina van Es, Celilo nurse practitioner

On weekends, Nina van Es retires to her house and 40 acres outside Lyle, Wash. A recording of soft Hawaiian guitar fills her living room as she binds a new memory to a page in her journal. She concentrates hard, layering pieces of tissue paper in her notebook, sometimes adding magazine clippings and pressed flowers from her yard. The fragile shapes and vibrant hues in Nina's collages reflect events she can't describe with words.

These tranquil moments help take the focus off the difficult experiences she sometimes deals with as the nurse practitioner of the Celilo Cancer Care Center.

"I do it if I want quiet time," Nina says. "I do it as something to keep my hands busy when I am processing stuff. Sometimes days here are hard."

The path of a cancer patient is a difficult one, but often, so is the path of the caregiver. When a patient has incurable cancer, doctors can only try to manage symptoms and make the patient as comfortable as possible.

"People pass on after you've treated them for years, or you've gone to funerals, and you have to have something that you can do to help yourself through that, because caregivers grieve. If you know somebody close for seven or eight years, you grieve when they're gone."

Still, Nina insists cancer is not a death sentence.

She argues instead that life is a death sentence. What matters is not whether you are going to die – death, Nina says, is inevitable -- but the way you choose to live your life. Sitting in her examination room, she glances matter-of-factly out the window and points out that the grass dies every year.

"We're just going to be like the grass, and that's just fine."

If you live your life with that knowledge, Nina says, the concept of death doesn't need to be frightening or depressing. It's how you use the time you have left that counts.

For Nina, this means working at Celilo, gardening, and spending as much time as possible with her husband and two sons. She also teaches a sociology of aging class at Columbia Gorge Community College. Because she wants her students to learn about human experience, she asks them to conduct needs assessments of senior citizens each year.

"It's incredibly satisfying to somehow make a difference, to help," she says. "I love teaching because it's the next generation. I can pass on what I've learned from 25 years in the trenches."

For each assessment, the students must interview their seniors and ask thoughtful, open-ended questions. Nina encourages them to ask, "What do you value most?"

Nina values heart.

Not the organ, but the courage and strength she sees in her patients every day.

"Something that has heart. Something that has great significance. Something that has meaning. Something that is more than just superficial. Heart."

Heart can be translated into different things. For Nina, heart means living life as well as possible. Heart means living in the present, feeling the wind on your face and taking time to appreciate the beauty in everyday sights -- grass, music, the shock of color in a geranium, the elegant movements of deer. Heart means the courage necessary to defeat even the greatest challenge.

"People have heart. When you look at somebody who is going through chemotherapy, or they sit in this chair and they get a diagnosis of cancer, they reach deep in order to adjust to that diagnosis and then to find the grit to say, 'alright, this is not going to be fun but I'm going to do it,' and you can see it in their face. That's heart."

That kind of determination inspires Nina to include passion and energy in her own life.

She jokes that she doesn't feel the need for heart when she shops for groceries or passes through airport security, but at work and at home, heart is a vital part of her life. There are people without heart "who are truly dead," and there are people close to death who Nina says are radiant and alive.

Over the years, Nina has gained a deep respect for human nature and spirit in her work. She has also realized how important self-expression can be for healing after an illness.

Like any other center, treats patients using chemotherapy and radiation, while also prescribing alternative medicines such as acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The center, sharing Nina’s belif, also encourages patients to use guided imagery and journal writing as therapy.

"Finding a form of expression is actually key, because all human beings want to be heard. They want to be listened to," Nina says. She says self-expression is a counseling strategy, a way "for them to process things."

With journals, patients can assess their daily progress and make judgements. Nina is deeply connected with her patients even when she processes things on her own time. Whether she is updating her collage journal or harvesting thyme from her herb garden, Nina's pasttimes simply give her a way to focus. Her own self-expression involves living in the moment, moving on and planting new seeds.

"When I do gardening, I'm resting," Nina says. "It's being present with the plants, and I'm not thinking about a whole heck of a lot of things. I'm not trying to solve the world. The lavender needs pruning and the deer have eaten it."

Sitting on the front steps outside her three-story house, she lifts up a piece of a once-lush green vine that the deer have nibbled to tiny stems. She looks at the remaining leaves for a moment, raises her sharp eyes, then smiles and starts shaking her head. With the knowledge that nothing is permanent, that the grass dies every year, Nina chooses to enjoy her restful weekend in peace.

After all, as she has said before, "It's not sad. It doesn't have to be. It's just life."

Chaplain's Lake construction captures community focus

2008-10-02T14:20:00.001-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Sept. 17, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Chaplain's Lake, a body of water once admired for its aesthetic appeal, was drained over the summer, and the city has now finalized the rest of the construction plans. The recent activity in the now-empty basin near the north end of the lake has caught the community's attention.

For the past two weeks, a CAT marsh buggy has been treading through the muddy remains of the lake, swirling a 50-foot metal arm around in the slimy material.

The sludge is actually a mixture of lime, alum and silt, according to Regional Construction owner Pat Johnson.

"It's just dirt, mainly," Johnson said.

When water from Sibley Lake goes through the water treatment plant's filtration system, all the sediment from the bottom of the lake enters the system. The water treatment plant backwashes the water, leaving sludge that is carried through a water line and deposited in Chaplain's Lake, which runs alongside Jefferson Drive.

The mud occupying the north end of Chaplain's Lake is a 10-year buildup of all the sediment that is being discarded by the water treatment plant, Johnson said.

Regional Construction, a company Johnson started in 2002, will remove the material from the lake and transport it to a containing area, where it will dry out and be saved for later use. Then, water will be poured back into the lake, returning it to its usual state.

The project is part of Natchitoches City Bid number 0464, which presented the city with a couple of options.

The city could either dredge - set up a barge in the middle of the lake and remove the sediment with a pump - or excavate - manually scoop up the sediment with excavation machinery. As made obvious by the tractors currently parked in and around the lake, the city decided on the latter.

Chuck Bourg, the director of the Physical Plant on campus, said representatives from NSU have attended meetings with the engineers and environmental consultants on this project to make sure things are going smoothly, even though the project is not their responsibility.

"We've taken a proactive stance and we want to be involved," Bourg said.

Bid 0464 was awarded Aug. 11 at a city council meeting for $256,000, Bourg said. The city hired an environmental consultant and engineer because certain permits needed to be filed for the Army Corps of Engineers, Bourg said.

Johnson's company, Regional Construction, is under a contract to remove 5,000 cubic yards of the material before the city can fill the lake with water again.

"I'm trying to make sure that we get the material out, but yet not damage the system that's in place right now," Johnson said.

In particular, the marsh buggy operators have to watch out for two 16-inch waterlines and a 24-inch waterline resting four feet beneath the water's surface. The lines extend across the width of the lake.

Wooden markers adorned with pink tape stretch across the width of the lake. Regional Construction measured elevation all the way across, then measured from the bottom of the tape down to the top of the silt. Then, the company calculated how much material must move in order to reach the 5,000 cubic yard goal. The average cut will be about 1.8 feet, Johnson said.

"When we get through, you'll have about four more feet of water in here than what's out there right now," Johnson said.

The silt should be removed before the end of this month. The lake should be filled with water again sometime in November.

Regional construction has helped out with many other projects on campus. They paved the asphalt of the walking track that winds alongside Chaplain's Lake and serves as a scenic route for athletes, students and community members.

Elisha Ibanga, a frequent runner and sophomore political science major, said the lake's current appearance diverts his running path - and his eyes - elsewhere.

"One of the things you always hear about [NSU] is that the campus looks great, and that definitely does not look cool," Ibanga said.

Ibanga said he still runs on the path, but not as often. Sometimes, he runs around the campus to avoid looking at the construction.

"It just doesn't look good, as far as campus appearance goes," Ibanga added. "Think of it sort of like a park. Would you want your park looking like that? Or your yard?"

The plans for Chaplain's Lake do consider physical appeal, though. If the city left the sediment in Chaplain's Lake alone, the silt deposits would eventually build up and form small islands and sandbars in the middle of the lake, rising up over the surface of the water, Bourg said.

"This is just to remove the silt that's in there now. The lake is not going to look any different once they're finished; it will look just like it did before," Bourg said.

This time, the city also plans to build a curtain wall around the lake to make sure the sediment from Sibley Lake will fall within a containment area instead of ending up in the middle of Chaplain's Lake, ensuring that the problem will be easier to fix if it happens again, Bourg said.

It is definitely a possibility, Bourg said, as this is the third time the city has had to drain Chaplain's Lake. The last project started about 10 years ago.

Continued construction brings traffic to standstill

2008-10-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Sept. 10, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Students who live off campus may have noticed an increase in heavy traffic this week. The lag, in part, is due to the blocked intersection of Front Street and Church Street, currently under construction as part of the Front Street brick project. Project manager John Bell plans to have the intersection finished by Friday.

It took five months to complete the first two phases of construction, and with just two months before the first event of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Bell and his company, Progressive Construction, are racing against the clock to finish laying down the bricks.

The crew typically works from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week. As of Friday, the crew started working in shifts to cover full 24-hour days, which will continue until the bricks can be returned to the Church Street intersection. Bell's goal for the intersection completion is less than a week away - Sept. 12. The anticipated deadline marks the beginning of the annual Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival.

Front Street, an integral part of the Natchitoches downtown area, was originally constructed in 1904. The street borders several storefronts, including the historic Kaffie-Frederick General Store and several restaurants.

Views from Front Street appear in the film "Steel Magnolias" and, for the last several years, the red brick road has been the location of "Boogie on the Bricks," a series of concerts organized by the Natchitoches Main Street Program to celebrate each NSU home football game.

Most significantly, Front Street is traditionally the site of a major tourist attraction, the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival. One glance at the construction proves that having a parade on the street in its current condition would be problematic. Bricks and concrete have been ripped up from the existing foundation and tall yellow backhoes occupy the width of the street.

At the construction site, workers in orange safety vests call out to each other over the whirring engines and beeping trucks backing up. First, Bell's crew removes the bricks and transports them to a cleaning area. The workers install new drain lines, which will run underground to a 54-inch drain that empties into the riverbank. After the installation is complete, the crew will layer limestone, concrete and sand before returning the 104-year-old bricks to the road. The Lafayette Circle and all of the crosswalks on Front Street will be the only areas with new bricks.

Some NSU students are displeased with the project.

Ashley Schoppe, a senior liberal arts major at the Louisiana Scholars' College, lives on Second Street and said the noise during the day has increased exponentially since work on the intersection began.

Schoppe, who has worked at Merci Beaucoup for two and a half years, said the traffic is a hindrance.

"I needed to go to Wal-Mart to get some food, and it usually takes me five minutes to get there, and it took me 35 minutes to get there," Schoppe said.

Schoppe said she hopes the construction crew achieves its goals soon.

Time is essential to this project, and so far, not everything has gone according to plan, Bell said. In addition to wrecking a few homes and flooding many streets, Hurricane Gustav delayed Bell and his crew by a full 48 hours. While Bell said the storm certainly didn't hit Natchitoches as hard as other areas in the state, the power outages in Natchitoches caused plenty of trouble. Without power, the suppliers shut down and could not provide the crew with the elements they needed to work. Half of the crew members still did not have power at their houses on Friday, Bell said.

Last semester, construction workers uncovered the foundations of four commercial buildings. Thurston Hahn III, the archaeologist for the project, shows up at the site every morning awaiting new discoveries. Watching the construction from the sidewalk, Hahn hopes for workers to point out things that are out of the ordinary.

"Most people envision archaeologists using a little paintbrush. I use backhoes and tractors and bulldozers," Hahn said.

Most of Hahn's work involves urban settings, but he has never executed a project quite like this one before. Aside from the building foundations, the crew has uncovered ceramics and glass beads that may have been crafted by Native Americans as early as 1830. In the 19th century, townspeople disposed of these unwanted items in the street, leaving behind objects that provide insight into the city's past.

At the construction site, one of the workers brings over a rusty bottle cap and hands it to Hahn. "I'm just giving him a hard time," he jokes.

Hahn laughs, but takes his work seriously. He has been working on this project for years. Hahn and Coastal Environments, a company central to Baton Rouge, are under a contract to study the findings and test their eligibility for a listing on the national registry of artifacts, Hahn said.

"You're trying to prove that it's so historically important that it can't be destroyed," Hahn explained.

Before the actual construction began, Hahn conducted a background study to see what areas held the most potential for archaeological findings.

Though archaeology groups like "Beneath the Bricks" were organized in Natchitoches to support the project, not everyone thinks the cause is worthwhile.

Matt Benge, a senior history major at NSU, disagreed with the project, adding that he thought the city should have used concrete instead of preserving the original bricks.

"It's time to move on," Benge said. "Forget the bricks. Who cares about the bricks?"

Benge, who lives off campus, said the bricks are not as historically significant as other aspects of Natchitoches' culture.

"There are more important things to be focused on," Benge said.

The businesses on Front Street have been dealing with the construction for five months. Bell and most of the crew are staying in Natchitoches, at least until they finish working on the Church Street intersection. The workers also eat at the restaurants on the street on a regular basis, Bell said.

"We try to do everything that we can to support it, because I know that this puts a bind on their business, especially at a time with the price of gas and the economy what it is, they would be slow anyway," Bell said.

The Christmas Festival, which begins Nov. 22 with its traditional fireworks show, is the final deadline for the construction project.

Some people have challenged Bell's work, insisting that he can't finish the project before the festival begins.

"We're going to finish it on time," Bell said. "I'd rather work the long hours now instead of having to work them on the end, and being up against that calendar every day and having these people say, 'You're not going to finish.'"

Guest actor receives standing ovation after 'Miracle Tomato'

2008-10-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Sept. 10 by The Current Sauce

"Miracle Tomato," an original play by Connecticut native Jessica Cerullo, drew a responsive crowd to the A.A. Fredericks auditorium Saturday night. Her poetic play shed light on the tomato's journey through history, as well as its many connections to everyday life.

The play's main character, Angelina Agnoloti, abandons her family's pizzeria and takes it upon herself to educate the people of America about a very misunderstood subject. For far too long, Angelina explains, people have looked at the tomato as an unassuming vegetable - yes, a vegetable.

According to Cerullo's research, tomatoes were deemed vegetables, not fruits, during the 19th century in a U.S. Supreme Court case. No cases since then have overturned the decision. Angelina draws attention to the lawmakers' motives in her narrative, noting that vegetables have higher taxes.

With glittering eyes and a strong accent, Cerullo highlighted the many pitfalls tomatoes have endured over the years, including recent allegations that linked tomatoes to salmonella poisoning.

Her energetic, convincing performance held the audience's attention from the play's first lines until its poignant finish.

For this performance of the play, Cerullo teamed up with Elizabeth Bigger, an NSU theatre major.

Bigger took on the role of Joanie, Angelina's silent accomplice and coworker. The pair met a couple of times before the performance to brainstorm and rehearse for the show. Bigger, a member of the NSU Out On A Limb Improv Troupe, performed in "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" last semester.

Though Bigger had no lines in this play, she captured the audience's focus with her facial expressions and impeccable comedic timing. Cerullo said she appreciated the opportunity to work with Bigger.

"She's very open and hardworking and has a wonderful imagination," Cerullo said in an interview.

Many theatre students and audience members stayed in the theater after the show for a talkback - an open forum for the audience to ask Cerullo questions and offer their suggestions for future performances.

At the talkback, NSU students and faculty members voiced their opinions about Cerullo's play, which she has performed 20 times in various cities all over the country. The talkback traditionally serves as an educational tool for the students, but in the case of "Miracle Tomato," the feedback is also beneficial to Cerullo, who improvises during each performance based on the way her audience responds.

"I would like the students to have an expanded idea of what theatre is," Cerullo said in an interview. "I'd like them to be inspired to make their own theatre, to find their own unique form of expression, whether it's through a tomato or anything that they feel that they want to share with an audience."

At the talkback after the show, Cerullo said one of the reasons she chose the tomato as a subject for this play is that she wanted a malleable theme that could constantly evolve. The play, "a traveling story of love, bioengineering, and the search for home," focuses on several metaphors involving tomatoes.

At one point in the play, more than 200 rubber tomatoes are dropped on the stage. Cerullo said she uses rubber tomatoes instead of real ones because she doesn't want to waste them, but also because she wants to make a correlation between the rubber tomatoes and the artificiality of today's genetically altered produce.

Cerullo's interpretation of "Miracle Tomato" depends on where she performs it. In an interview, she commented that each town is like a tomato in that there is more to a town than that which meets the eye. Cerullo researches the culture and history of a town when she travels so that she can incorporate inside jokes about each city's culture and current events in her performances.

The play's sparse set and simple lighting allowed the audience to focus on the actors and the multimedia components of the show. A Macbook and projector rested on a small table with a red-and-white checkered tablecloth. While Cerullo acted as Angelina, interacting with the audience and explaining the tomato's journey from South America to North America, Bigger projected maps and photographs onto a large screen. As discussed at the talkback, the images enforced the play's message and provided additional insight into Angelina's ideas.

Saturday night's audience gave Cerullo and Bigger a standing ovation for their performance.

In her "serious comedy," Cerullo showed her audience that actors - and tomatoes - have a lot to offer.

'The River' landlocked

2008-10-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published Sept. 4, 2008 by The Current Sauce

The River Campus Ministry, a collegiate group associated with The River interdenominational church, scheduled its second annual Riverboat Outreach - a social session for students, complete with free food and riverboat rides - for last Saturday. This year, the event hit an unexpected snag.

"We did it last year, and it was a real big success. Students took [boats] all up and down the Cane River and they had a lot of fun with it, so we decided to do it again this year," minister Ellis Newman said. "But we didn't get to."

It wasn't a matter of fish and loaves - several businesses donated food and supplies for the event, and three community members lent their barges. When the organizers showed up to push their first vessel out on the water, the boat launches were closed.

Newman, who contacted the game warden, said he expected that the Cane River would be accessible because it collected so much rain during the week. Unfortunately, the water level was almost a foot too shallow.

"If the water's too low, then the boats can get hung up on objects in the water, and so the game warden just says, 'No boats on the river,'" he said.

The Cane River Patrol strongly discouraged water sports and activities while the levels remained low, Cane River Patrol officer Betty Fuller said.

It takes at least 15 feet of water to launch a boat, and with the conditions at the outreach, it would have taken eight inches of rain all at once for Cane River to return to its normal, safe level, Fuller said.

"If you have a boat you love, I just wouldn't recommend taking it out in these conditions," Fuller said.

Because the boats were borrowed, Newman and other organizers decided to host the event on the riverbank. At the outreach, students played games down by the riverside as an active alternative to a relaxing boat ride. They played basketball, horseshoes and volleyball at the outreach. They also lined up for free barbecue.

Brian Pierson, The River's youth director, showed up at the event to help pilot one of the boats, but ended up manning the grill instead. Even without the presence of riverboats, Pierson said the Riverboat Outreach was a success.

Newman said he hoped The River would be able to take students out on the boats later during the semester, provided enough rainfall makes conditions favorable. After Gustav, rain seems all too obvious.

Ironically, Fuller said the Cane River can also be closed for water levels that are too high.

It's not easy being 'green'

2008-10-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published February 20, 2008 by The Current Sauce

Despite the amusing commercials, it's obvious that America does not, in fact, run on Dunkin' Donuts.

Last week, President Hugo Chavez said he would cut off oil supplies to the United States after Exxon Mobil Corp decided to freeze billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.

Experts predict that Chavez is all talk - and that it wouldn't make a huge difference even if he did follow through. Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy prepares for emergencies by reserving millions of oil barrels and storing them in "underground salt caverns along the Gulf of Mexico coastline," according to the Department's Web site.

Of course, the promise of crude oil hidden in mysterious underground salt caverns is comforting, but Chavez still poses a daunting threat. Venezuela is the nation's fourth largest oil supplier, according to the Associated Press.

Foreign crude oil dependency has been debated in Congress, online forums, and South Park episodes, but so far, it seems like we haven't made a great deal of progress.

The U.S. guzzles millions of barrels of oil each day, which is enough to supply more than 99 percent of the fuel used in our automobiles, according to the Department of Energy's Web site.

Major car companies have encouraged the use of environmentally friendly fuels by introducing hundreds of concept cars and a handful of actual vehicles - like the Toyota Prius, the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Ford Escape Hybrid - to the market.

These companies haven't stopped at ethanol, either. We now have cars that run on hydrogen and solar power. Honda recently introduced a car with an engine that actually collects steam from the car's exhaust and recycles it as fuel, according to Ecogeek.com.

This kind of technology is something our generation should be taking advantage of, but most Americans - including me - still drive on gasoline.

Sure, ethanol fueled cars are better for the environment, but it's hard to say whether they will ever actually end up dominating gasoline-fueled cars.

The fact is that even though companies will continue to produce these cars and figure out new ways to distribute substances like ethanol, it would take an extremely long time for the U.S. to be able to manufacture all its own fuel.

I care about the environment, but even if I had the money to pay for a hybrid car, I would probably have to use it to pay off my student loans instead.

For now, I'll stick to recycling.

Charter group settles on five

2008-07-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT and ED COX
Published July 23, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle

MOSIER — The Wasco County Home Rule Charter Committee has decided that five is the magic number — of commissioners, that is.

In finally resolving one of its longstanding questions at the Mosier Grange Thursday night, the committee charged with proposing a reorganization of the county’s government unanimously settled on the idea of electing four commissioners by district and one chair at large. Still unresolved is the issue of whether the charter would call for a hired county administrator.

Each commissioner must have lived in Wasco County for one year prior to the election. Everyone agreed that all positions should be nonpartisan.

There was also a lively debate over whether public employees should be allowed on the board.

The committee discussed not allowing any employees whose paychecks derive from taxpayer dollars to be able to be part of a committee. The draft states that “No regular or temporary public employee shall be eligible to serve as a member of the board of commissioners.”

Committee member Julie Krueger said she thought it was discrimination to exclude someone from a commitee based on whether or not they were a public employee. She noted that people who run for commissioner positions generally do so in the interest of serving the community. Other committee members argued that being employed by the public would incite conflicts of interest.

In the end, the committee voted 4-2 to exclude public employees, with chairman Keith Mobley abstaining and Krueger and McHale opposed. Since the meeting, Mobley said The Dalles City Manager Nolan Young, speaking as a citizen, has protested the public employee exclusion. Mobley said the committee will the matter again at its next meeting.

Committee member Georgia Murray raised another personnel issue. She said that at one point, at least six members of the same family were working for the county. She made it clear that she did not wish for currently employed county workers to be fired merely because they are related, but she suggested that the charter could mention the situation to prevent it from continuing.

“I agree that’s a problem,” said committee member Van Valkenburgh. “I don’t think it should be in the charter, but I think that it’s a good personnel policy.”

“Well, do you want to put a limit on more than five family members?” committee member Jack Hay joked.

Everyone laughed, but Murray said she has started asking new employees whom they are related to because it seems everyone working for the county is related.

“I just think that there are so many people out there who are qualified, but it seems like everybody who gets a job is related to somebody, and I just don’t like that,” Murray said.

That particular issue remained unresolved.

At the sparsely attended meeting, Bill Ward, one of the two audience members from Mosier, said the charter should be constructed without deceptive language and terms that are not immediately understandable. Ward, Mosier’s former mayor, said a five-commissioner board was “fine” and asked the committee to make sure it contained both a representative from western Wasco county and a professional to lead the board.

“As long as you get a good person who has the capacity by education, training and experience that can give you what you need, I think that’s a very good idea,” Ward said.

The committee spent part of the meeting looking through a list of ordinances processed by the county court, as an extension of an earlier discussion about proposed rules for passing ordinances and the use of emergency clauses.

In the words of the charter draft, “An ordinance adopted to meet an emergency may take effect as soon as it is adopted. An emergency ordinance is in existence of clear and present danger or threat to life or property of the people of Wasco County, resulting from a disaster either natural or manmade.” Emergency ordinances authorize immediate action — in short, there’s no 30-day waiting period to deal with.

Murray went to the county courthouse and compiled a complete list of all ordinances processed by the county court since 2003. According to her research, the county considered 40 percent of those to be emergencies. Murray will redraft that information and present it again at the next meeting.

The next committee meeting is set for Thursday, July 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Wasco County Courthouse. The committee will begin with an examination of Article 4 of the charter draft — deciding whether they want an administrator.

Early in Thursday’s meeting, McHale, the committee’s self-described “court jester,” remarked that the committee would not have to argue over the same issues repeatedly if certain members were not so stubborn.
“We’re not hard-headed,” vice chair Lewis Flint said. “We just want to get it right.”

Adrift on the Nansene

2008-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published July 10, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle

It’s about 11:45 a.m. on Saturday and I am standing on a bridge in Dufur, aiming a zoom lens at the innertubes in the creek below. I snap a few shots and run back to the truck to get rid of the camera. When I return to the creek entrance, I expect to see someone waiting for me (I’ve got the keys to the truck, after all) but once I reach the water, I am met only with a black rubber tube and a six-foot walking stick to paddle with.

Hesitantly, I wade into the water and peer down the creek. The family has floated out of sight, but voices carry across the wind and I realize if I don’t go now, I may never catch up.

I am about to become a participant in The Great Nansene Creek Flotilla. Every year, Michael Glover, the commodore of the Ft. Dufur Yacht and Tubing Club, leads a group of explorers on an innertube flotilla down the creek. This year’s participants include five members of the Alexander family, originally from California. Michael invited them after meeting them at church.

According to the bright blue advertisements, Bryan and Marilyn Alexander are the “Exaulted Guardian of the Fog Horn” and the “Royal Ruler of the Deck,” respectively. Three of their children — Tess, Cole and Rene — are also along for the ride. (At the creek, both parents lamented that their eldest son stayed home to sleep.) Bryan rides with 3-year-old Rene resting on his chest while Marilyn rides close to 5-year-old Cole. Michael’s brother, Kenneth, is second in command, tugging two spare tubes behind him in the shallow creek. He identifies bucks and blue herons just before they escape from our view. Kenneth’s knowledge of plant life also comes in handy, as he warns us when we get close to poisonous leaves.

Ice-cold water encompasses my lower half as I float down the winding creek. For the most part, the water is calm and the sun is bright on my arms (suddenly, I regret declining the sunscreen Michael offered me at the fort). Innertubing is not as easy a sport as one might think. Getting positioned in the tube itself feels like a chore; I fall out of it at least three times. Ladybugs and daddy longlegs climb over the sides of my innertube, apparently jealous of all the fun I’m having.

Truly, though, this experience is one I’ll never forget.

Michael’s knowledge of the creek never ceases to amaze me and the Alexanders talk with me like they’ve known me for years. The creek provides endless new sights and sounds.

Bryan and Rene watch a beaver hiding near its dam, followed by fleeting glimpses of a doe and a hawk. Marilyn calls out “bottoms up” each time the rocks come too close for comfort, which makes everyone else in the group laugh.
Seeds attach themselves to the arms and legs of the Alexanders (Michael remains curiously clean and dry). Tree branches stretch out over some areas of the water, forcing the occasional game of limbo.

At first, I avoid the rough spots of water and prickly foliage lining each side of the creek. “Coward!” Michael shouts to me. “Where’s your sense of trailblazing spirit?” He smiles, but I know he’s only half joking, so I decide to give it a shot.
Pushing myself forward with my tree branch, I hear the sound of rushing water and brace myself for what I assume will be a small-scale version of whitewater rafting. My guess is accurate. The tube twists and spins in the water as I am seized by the current. I find myself laughing and shrieking with 10-year-old Tess. She uses her walking stick like a kayak paddle and peers around every corner with wide, excited eyes. She and Brother Glover (as the children refer to him throughout the flotilla) manage to stay ahead of the group for the majority of the trip, speaking in pirate jargon and laughing like conspirators.

We stop several times on the trip to breathe, stretch our legs and snack on the Red Vines and beef jerky Michael has brought in airtight bags.

At each stop, Michael describes what we’ll see on the next part of our exploration. He seems to know every curve of the creek by heart. He has been doing this since 1976. His interest is simple: Once, he overheard a few guys talking about going down the creek and thought, “That sounds like fun.”

Soon, he and about 27 other explorers were positioning themselves in innertubes and floating away. Michael’s brother, Buster, says he accompanies Michael on many of the trips.

This year’s flotilla began Saturday morning at Fort Dufur, an ancient yellow two-story house in downtown Dufur. Michael, Buster and the Alexander family signed the “ship’s log,” loaded up a truck and two SUVs with large black innertubes and travelled to Fifteenmile Creek. This was the Alexanders’ first year on the flotilla, so Cole and Rene seemed a bit uncertain about the trip at first.

“You’re going to feel really proud of yourselves once you’ve done it,” Marilyn told them.

I know I did. It’s not every day a reporter — who is not athletic by any means, mind you — spends an afternoon brushing against algae and hiking through a thicket after falling out of an innertube. By the end of the voyage I feel sleepy and sunburned, but I definitely appreciate the appeal of the journey. It was exactly what Michael said it would be — an adventure. I felt like the female Huck Finn on a miniature Mississippi.

As Michael describes it, the experience is about witnessing nature up close and enjoying each other’s company in the process. The flotilla is an opportunity to relax, laugh, swap stories and make new memories. Michael’s tradition seems to have made quite an impact on the Alexanders already.

“We might end up making this an annual family event,” Marilyn tells me.

When the flotilla finally reaches Wrentham, Tess and Cole hike up a hill to the main road and sprawl out in the sun over their innertubes to recover from the chilly water. Standing in the empty street, Cole displays his pruny fingers and toes and Tess climbs inside a stack of the rubber tubes. “What are you, the Michelin woman?” Marilyn jokes. Cole sees Tess’ creation and starts building one of his own.

It seems Michael’s flotilla tradition may continue with the Alexanders for many years to come. When Buster, Michael and Bryan finish retrieving all the innertubes from the water, Cole asks if he can go again the next day.

Painting with Dance

2008-07-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published June 26, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle

The Maryhill Museum of Art celebrated the work of one of its founders Saturday with “Dancing with Loïe,” an all-day event ending with an evening of dance at The Dalles Wahtonka High School.

LoïeFuller’s experimentation with costume and lighting design produced mesmerizing choreography that is still reconstructed by artists today.

The performances included productions of the dances “La Noir” and “Dance of the Elements” by Jody Sperling and her company, Time Lapse Dance.

Sperling, a Fuller interpreter and dance scholar, gave a lecture at Maryhill and showed several slides with images of Fuller — a whirling mass of fabric, a woman’s form concealed by sheer white silk and colored beams of light. Sperling’s presentation showed the evolution of Fuller’s work from frivolous entertainment to captivating spectacle.

Fuller, who originally performed as a burlesque dancer, took cues from skirt-dancing, a traditional dance that highlighted the female body and usually had a salacious connotation. Sperling showed slides of photographs that documented the evolution of Loïe Fuller’s dance techniques.

In 1997, Sperling was the photo editor for the International Encyclopedia of Dance. Her managing editor choreographed a show featuring styles from the 1890s, and though Sperling originally showed little interest in performing a Fuller-esque solo at the show, the unique costume and the choreography (set to “Ride of the Valkyries”) changed her mind.

Sperling, however, is not a reconstructor of Fuller’s dances. Instead, she draws inspiration from Fuller’s work and choreographs her own more contemporary routines.

According to Sperling, Fuller used innovative methods to create her costumes. She installed long, lightweight rods in the sleeves of each dress so that when a dancer spins or waves her arms, the billowing fabric follows every movement.

“With the extensions under the costumes, you’re basically able to create these spiraling vortex forms that exist in nature and all different kinds of phenomena that are not normally visible,” Sperling said.

“When you create these undulating, iridescent surfaces, you’re able to create scenes, and it’s incredible. When I am dancing, I really feel that I am connecting to the universe.”

At Maryhill, dancer Jessica Lindberg gave a presentation on Loie Fuller’s “Fire Dance.” She showed videos of herself performing some of Fuller’s most famous dances in costume. The costumes were an integral part of Fuller’s work; they created the shapes and imagery that helped her captivate audiences. Each costume was made with yard after yard of silk.

Lindberg’s collaborator and former classmate Megan Slayter designed the lighting for Lindberg’s reconstruction.
Both Slayter and Lindberg are dancers. They met in a modern dance class in the graduate program at Ohio State. When the class briefly discussed Loie Fuller, Lindberg said she was interested, but the lesson moved immediately to the next subject. It wasn’t enough for Lindberg.

“That hole in art history always sort of ate at me. I wanted to fix it,” Lindberg said.

Lindberg and Slayter researched Fuller’s lighting techniques, design philosophy and personal life. Eventually, they were able to recreate some of her most well-known routines.

Lindberg’s performance of “Fire Dance” is now part of a DVD available in the Museum gift shop.

“We’re both very committed to making this available to art students,” Slayter said.

The Fuller festival schedule included several other presentations. Author Ann Cooper Albright gave a speech on her book, “Traces of Light: Absence and Presence in the Work of Loie Fuller.” Maranee Sanders gave a presentation titled “Loie and Friends.” Dancers from The Portland Ballet performed “Reverie Du Soir, ’A Tribute To Loie Fuller’” and “Flower Festival in Genzano - Pas de Deux.” Lindberg performed Loie Fuller’s “Lily of the Nile” dance, which was created in 1897.

The museum — and artist and dancer Alisa Looney — invited children to don costumes and dance in the Outdoor Sculpture Garden. The garden is full of original sculptures, including a few by Looney herself.

Elizabeth Graham, a ten-year-old from Philipsburg, Montana, said her favorite part of the trip was dancing with Looney. Looney and Graham twirled in the garden with pieces of colorful silk and tulle in their hands, making shapes reminiscent of Fuller’s famous dresses.

Graham came to The Dalles to visit her aunt and uncle and see the Stonehenge Memorial at Maryhill, but she said she was excited to see the Loie Fuller exhibit.

“It’s awesome,” she said.

Cancer survivor makes time for others

2008-07-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published June 23, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle

When Luanna Odom waves at her husband, Dan, the bright smile on her face could convince anyone that she has led a life without suffering. Odom’s strength is evident, and few would guess from her positive attitude that 12 years ago she faced a life-altering diagnosis.

Odom is a 12-year survivor of breast cancer and an 11-year survivor of lung cancer. When she entered the hospital for treatment, Dan was by her side all along.

“My husband was my biggest support. I’d have exercises to do, and he’d come home from work and say, ‘Well, have you done them?’”

Odom is a member of the Cancer Crushers, one of the 22 teams that registered for the eighth annual Relay For Life this year. At Wahtonka High School on Saturday, supporters from the tri-city area walked the track and donated money to cancer treatment organizations in the hopes of coming closer to a cure. Odom stood in the shade of her team’s tent and waved at her husband as he passed by on his motorcycle.

“He gets to go play for awhile,” she said, laughing.

She and Dan have been married for 32 years.

Odom’s cancer was first detected during a mammogram procedure. She began going to a medical facility for regular bloodwork and treatment. One year after her mastectomy, she went to a checkup and a chest X-ray revealed cancer in her lungs.

Odom praised the Celilo Center for Cancer Care, where she said she received excellent care from her doctor.

“When you walk in there, they treat you like you’re a human being, and they treat you with dignity. They treat you like you’re an individual,” Odom said.

Odom said one of her favorite moments in the Relay was the luminaria ceremony, which began at 10 p.m. Saturday. People purchased and decorated white paper bags in memory of their family members and friends affected by cancer. Once it was dark outside, small candles were lit inside the bags, creating a line of glowing bags all around the walking track. Approximately 346 bags had been purchased by 4 p.m.

Teammate Mary Brann said the ceremony is a very important part of the relay.

“We’re here because cancer has touched so many people in our family,” Brann said. Odom lost her brother-in-law to colon cancer three years ago and her father to lymphatic cancer in 1969.

Louise Gruver leads the Cancer Crushers team (from Dallesport), which has been a fixture at the Relay since 2000. In 1988, Gruver defeated cervical cancer after her doctor found cancer cells during an annual checkup. Early detection is now a vital part of Gruver’s advocacy for the American Cancer Society.

This year’s fundraising goal was set at $90,000. Francene Nash, who has been the Chair of the planning committee for two years, said by around 4 p.m. the event had already brought in $50,000.

Nash said she — as well as many others — planned to stay at the event until the next morning.

“This is nothing, giving up a few hours of my time. Just to spend the time honoring the survivors that are here, it’s just a great thing.”

Universities test competition cars at regional airport strip

2008-07-04T23:02:00.000-07:00

By KELLI FONTENOT
Published June 20, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle

On your marks, get set, go — to California.

For the first time in 12 years, the Western Washington University automotive engineering team has finished building a formula-style racing vehicle in less than a year, team captain John Furtado said. The team will race its car, the Viking 43, at the Formula SAE West Competition in Fontana, Calif. The Society of Automotive Engineers will host the event at the California Speedway from June 25-28.

With the big competition only a week away, three teams — WWU, Oregon State University and University of Washington — gathered at a decommissioned runway this week at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport to test their cars, select drivers and catch a glimpse of the competition.

The teams hoped to run their cars under hot-weather conditions similar to those in California.

“It’s been pretty useful to see the other people’s cars and kind of benchmark where we’re at,” Furtado said.

The roaring engines are reminiscent of big formula racers, but these cars have a style all their own. Each car is compact, aerodynamic and built with careful consideration of the contest restrictions.

The team has been preparing every day for the last few weeks. The students met Wednesday to set up an endurance course and hold open practice.

The WWU team, which includes The Dalles resident Eric Urness, began building its car during the 2007 Christmas break, teammate Adam Baxter said. The small, aerodynamic car seemed ready for competition Tuesday as it rapidly weaved through a course of traffic cones positioned on the makeshift racetrack. The team’s engineers used woven carbon fiber to create some of the lightweight elements of the car.

Carbon fiber and the other materials necessary for constructing a car are expensive. The team received most of its financial support from parents and sponsors, Urness said.

At the competition, judges will evaluate the team’s performance in skidpad, acceleration, autocross and endurance courses. Furtado said the team has spent most of its time engineering the vehicle because the judges will scrutinize the team’s design, presentation and technical work. Judges will also test the car’s noise level, master switch, brakes and stability.

“They want to see what the car can actually do and then they add the driver element,” Furtado said.

The driver element in this case consists of five engineering students from Western Washington University, Urness said. Adam Baxter, Kyle Donohue, Trever McDermott, Erik Kremsner and Scott L’Farrell will drive for different events at the competition.

On Tuesday, the team chose Donohue as an autocross racer. Donohue went to UW for three years and transferred to WWU. His classes taught him about automotive engineering and driving, but he also learned from his experience in SAE.

“It’s one thing to have knowledge and it’s another to implement it,” Donohue said.

Besides education, the SAE offers a sense of comradeship. The track provides students with an environment for discussing cars and making good friends, said Donohue, who has been autocross racing for about three years. Donohue said he is unafraid of being behind the wheel of the Viking 43, which can accelerate to nearly 100 mph.
“If you’re scared to drive, you probably shouldn’t be in the car,” Donohue said.

Many members of the SAE have already competed in competitions this year. WWU’s engineering students earned first and second place awards at a SAMPE structural bridge competition this year, Urness said.

This weekend, the team will put the finishing touches on its entry for the upcoming competition. About 80 schools will participate in the event this year, according to volunteer information from FSAE West.

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